of the Council of Safety, 1777. 169

[Council to Vanbibber and Harrison.]

March 11^th 1777
Gent. Your favour of the 28^th December inclosing account
current &^c and Mr Vanbibbers of the 10^th January have come
to hand.
We are exceedingly sorry that our endeavours to extinguish
the heavy debt you have contracted on account of our State
have been attended with so little success. Had the Resolu-
tion got safe through the enemies and the 92 not missed the
Island of Martinique their cargoes which were valuable would
have greatly relieved you. the 92 arrived at the Moal almost
a wreck Martin Conway & Moores Cargoes if they arrive safe
with the money you have or will receive for the powder
Leguiere sold at Carolina belonging to this State will greatly
reduce our balance.
We are getting the Ship Lydia Burthen 400 Hhds ready to
take in a load of Tobacco which will be dispatched to you as
soon as possible. And you may depend that the Governor &
Council who will shortly succeed us and to whom in future be
pleased to address your letters, will do every thing in their
power to strengthen your hands. But if you could draw bills
upon them even at 25 p^r ct discount it would be serving the
State & yourselves to do it. Salt Blankets & Course woollens
with trimmings we want very much & wish to have them
almost at any price. M^r Vanbibbers order on us in fav^r of
Vanbibber and Crockett for 1133 1/6 Dolls, has appeared and
is duly honoured.
Pray have you ever heard any intelligence respecting
Simonton. M^r M^cCreary who is now in this State has
informed us that he shipped to the care of Mr Vanbibber from
Rotterdam for the use of this State 2100 musquets 100.000
Gunflints 20 Boxes Dbl. & 20 Boxes single tin, 1300 Gun
Locks 5 Tons lead, and a large quantity of medicines that a
Mr. Beall who is connected with M^r Norton at Williamsburgh
informed him that their goods arrived safe in Statia that M^r
Vanbibber refused to pay the freight of them, and that a Mr
Stevenson had taken them up and sold part of them to pay it.
We cannot give credit to this information; and beg that
you will make enquiry and inform us particularly how this
business has been transacted and what has been done with the
goods.
Inclosed you have invoice & Bill of Lading for the Brothers
Cargo which we wish to a good market. Herewith you will
receive several copies of the convention of New York's address
to the people of that State which be pleased to distribute
amongst the Inhabitants of Martinique & the British Islands
also a News paper that has Governor Livingston's speech to

C. S. C.

No. 180.