290 Journal and Correspondence

diately sent out must certainly come to a good market almost
any where. I myself am just now returned from Boston
where I have been on a visitt to my friends there, where I
found both bread & flour very scarce and high, indeed
scarcely any to be got, not one barrle of sweet flour was to be
had in the whole town of Boston and bad as it was sold
quick at 4 Dollars p C^t: I think this Vessell of ours
loaded with a cargo of bread in bulk to go to Boston must
answer well with a little flour, and for returns coud purchase
West India goods of any kind very low, as they are falling
still lower every day from the great quantitys of prizes that
are constantly comeing into them. I was myself for several
days at there publick sales of prize cargos, where I saw
great quantitys of sugars, spiritt rum, coffee, cotton &^c, sell
very low indeed or if them articles would not answer it
appears to me there might a great deal of money be made
on a cargo of salt. I see it sell in Boston at 4/ p^r bush^l by
the quantity, and it was thought by most people there it
would be lower, as a great many of their vessels were gone

after salt, thinking it will be scarce and dear Which is thought

there will not be the case, that I realy believe salt may be
bought as low in Boston as any where we can safely send for
it, as there is many circumstances in fav^r of a vessells getting
there safe, from there good forts on Nantaskett and other
heigths near which no Kings ship will dare to come, and their
coast is so much of an iron bound one (so caled) that no ship
will dare to lay off there this time of the year. This vessel
of ours will carry about four or five thousand bushells of salt,
which would be a very handsome back freight, and she is
extreamly well adapted for the purpose of carrying salt being
a very boyent vessel that will not load too deep. I hope Gent
you won't immagine I presume to dictate to you what should
be done in those matters, as you undoubtedly do know much
better than I can think or immagine; but several of my
friends here advised me to write to this purpose, what I knew
of these matters, which I hope you won't take amiss, as so
great a quantity of bread being ready and much in our way,
want to make more room &^c a get it out while they Bay is
clear. Your favouring me with a line on this subject imme-
diately will very much oblidge me, and if I can in any wise
serve you in loading this vessel shall be extreamly glad of the
favour, in which hope I act to your aprobation in every
respect. Gent your most obed^t most Hble Serv^t

Cumberland Dugan.