of the Council of Safety, 1776. 387

ing a Body with the members of whom I have the honor of
claiming little or no acquaintance.
I am here during the war, and my connection with M^r Penet
(for whose character I refer you gentlemen, to the secret Com-
mittee of Congress) influences me to request that preference
in your business which we have already been honored with
from the Secret Committee of Congress.
Much pains have been taken to obtain a possibility of doing
the American business from hence, which I have the satisfac-
tion of informing you have met with such success as renders
it in our power to supply the Continent with any articles they
please.
The articles w^ch may be imported to advantage from hence
are Vitrey Linnens fit for coarse shirting or sails; coarse cloths
for soldiers or negroes cloathing and blankets with all kind of
military articles.
Letters directed to Penet and Rumsey to the care of M^r
John Gruel of this city: Messrs. Reculess D^e Basmarein &
Raimbaux Merchants in Bourdeaux or Mons Stephan Catha-
Jon of Marseilles will be carefully forwarded.
With the utmost respect
I am Gent yr. mo. obed^t Humble Serv^t
Nantes October 20^th 1776. Nathan Rumsey

[Van Bibber and Harrison to Council.]

St. Pierre Martinique Oct^r 20^th 1776.
Gent. Our last respects to you were by Capt. Martin, who
sailed from this place the 11^th current with a valuable cargoe.
Since then your favours of the 12^th Sept. have come safe to
hand p^r the Molly Capt. Conway. His cargoe, tho' a very proper
one, we are sorry to acquaint, has come to a most wretched
market, 577 p^r barrel for his flour and 36/ for his bread is the
most we have been able to obtain and his tobacco is yet unsold.
Since disposing of this Flour, a cargoe of Philadelphia Super-
fine has been sold for 53/. This fall has been occasioned by
the immense quantities that have arrived and continue to
arrive from France on a supposition that it would be a scarce
article here. We fear there will be no change for the better
till towards the middle of Winter and spring when we imagine
it will begin to advance again as in all probability the exporta-
tions from France will cease when it is known how badly their
speculations must turn out. and plenty as flour is, we know
of nothing that can be sent from Maryland that will turn to a
better account so surprisingly are we glutted with Tobacco
and all kinds of provisions.

Original.