Moses Robertson letter to James Withers, 1781 August 13

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Walmer 13^th. August 1781

Sir,

I rec^d. yours of the 10^th. Ins^t. yesterday by the hands of
my Friend M^r. Denward. wherein you Inform me that
you have disposed of the 14 hhds of Tob^o. Consign'd you
by M^r. Norton & my self at an Average price of about 21^dp,
but that you cannot tell when you will make out
the sales, as Williams has not settled with Hills
I am fearfull sir that if you wait for such a settlem^t.
the time of make^g. the sales out must be very distant
Indeed, as you say you are fearfull that we shall not
get one shilling of our money return^d. Hll have^g. been
in Goal after taking in M^r. Letillier for a large sum.
you know sir my opinion from the first of this
Business of those two men which has been the Cause
of some Misunderstand^g. between us, but I think you
must be now fully convince^d of the Justice of my suspicions.
I hope sir you will loose no time in prepare^g. the Acc^t. of
sales. I shoud be sorry to say or do any thing that might
add to your Illness but I am Exceed^g. anxious to get
my Matters settles that I may be prepared for any Event
that may arise to Quit this Country, as I think at all Events
Early in the Next Spring to go for Ostend, or some Neutral
Port, & try to get a Bottom, which I find by my Friends
here can be Easily done, you mention have^g. rec^d. a
Bill from S^t. Eustatia part of which to the Am^t. of about
70£ is the produce of the sale of the Cultery Flower &^c.
M^r. Norton writes that the Cutlery sold for 168 pct
Advance which allow^g. the Exchange at 70 pct will Amount
at any rate to upwards of 70£ alone, as it Cost near 50^£ here
which I have paid M^r. Gosleng; the other principal
Articles I left with M^r. Norton at S^t. Eustatia were 15 Barrells
of Flower about which at the lowest wou'd be ^£4/.10 p Barrell
yet unaccount^d. for to me. Woud be 67^£. about 1000 wt of Bread

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which I know was sold at a Joe pc wou'd be upwards of 15£
more and two Teirces of Beef cost at London ^£4/10 Sterling
P^r. Teirce, besides 20 guineas lent M^rs. Nortno at Barbadoes
and a Barrell of Flower, and M^r. Norton 4 Joes at S^t. Kitts
Besides sundry other Articles, all which you will find
sir would make me Expect a much greater sum than
70 pounds, as that alone is the price of ^my Trunk of
Cutlery, the Delivery of those Articles at S^t Eustatia appears
on the ships Books under the Mates hand. What little
Money I have bring out at Interest, and my Tob^o. with
great part of the Duty on it so long unsold, I was
put to some in convenience Rather then draw on you
but that being now Dispo^d. of there can be (I think) little
doubt but you will soon be in Cash for that, and
as a Remittance has come to your hands for my Cutlery
I have this day drawn on you in Favor of the Rev^d.
M^r. Denward for 70£ Ten days After sight which I
make no Doubt but you will duly Honor. I hope
to have no Farther Occation to Trouble you till you are
prepared for a Final Settlement, by rendering an
Acc^t. of sales, which I make no doubt will be as soon
as you conveniently can; when I saw you last I cou'd
not have thought it woud have been ten Months
before my Tob^o. wou'd have been sold & the Money
rec^d. and in that Expectation had lock^t. up almost
all my Money before I left London, which has rather
distress^d. me, but being well acquaint^d here has been
of much service to me. I am very sorry for M^r. Nortons
loss but I was very Apprehensive he wou'd have been
a much greater sufferer, I am sorry to hear of your Ill
state of Health and know of no Method so likely to
Restore it as Country Air, and I hope you ^will now have
your mind more at Ease, I can by Experience say that
the Country Air is of the greatest service as when
I left London I was greatly Troubled with the Cholic

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and Indigestion brought on I think greatly by the Unhappy^ness
have^g. my peace of mind disturbed by the seisure, and
now thank God I am as well as Ever I was in my life.
If nothing can be recover^d. of Hill it will be a great
loss Indeed, but I shall stick close to his skirts when
I come up, I hope sir that nothing may happen in
Future to Interrupt a good Understand^g between us,
I do Assure you that on my part I am very desire^s that
as we have been long servants we may continue long
Friends and I beg that you will put the most
Favorable Construction on any thing that has pass^t.
between us, Nothing cou'd have Interrupt^d. the harmony
between us but such Rogues as we have had to
deal with. Cap^t. Goosly was with me at this
[torn, illegible] 4 or 5 days and I part^d. with him
[torn, illegible] June in the Morn^g on Dover Peir Head [illegible]
went over in a Neutral Boat for Ostend [illegible]
Not heard from him since, but I dare say he land^d.
that Even^g. on the other side, my desire to him was
not to write as the times are so critical I shall be
always glad to hear from ^you direct^d to the care of
M^r. Denward being sir your Hble Serv^t
Moses Robertson

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M^r. James Withers
N^o. 9 Copthall Court
London

Walmer 13^th Aug^st. 1781
M^s: Robertson
Rec'd 14^th Aug^st