I have the pleasure of informing your excellency of my arrival here with
some muskets for this State; I ship’d eight hundred and seventy-eight
stand from St. Eustatius, I shall land five hundred stand at
Washington—the remainder which come in another bottom, will be at
Edenton.
I could not procure anything on the faith of the State, or by barter for
provisions or tobacco as was expected, they were taught to believe in
the West Indies that a bushel of salt would purchase one hundred weight
of tobacco, and that two and one-half, a barrel of pork. While they
entertain this idea (salt being of little value there) it will be
impossible to barter for more valuable articles, the exchange to be in
this State, as was suggested by some gentlemen in the assembly. The
price of tobacco had fallen in the West Indies about the time of my
arrival there, owing to the quantity just then imported from the
continent—which with the advise of Mr. Governeur, the continental agent
there determined me to reship the tobacco in Dutch bottoms to Europe, he
undertook to do it, and advanced for six hundred of the arms—the
remainder I purchased on my own credit on Interest for the State—the
arms are very good and purchased at the reasonable price of five and
five and a half pieces of eight per stand. Part of the tobacco I ship’d
was damaged, which can only be accounted for either by the negligence of
the inspector or the bad state of the warehouse where it was stored.
We were apprised of the sailing of the fleet from New York, which made
me assiduous in geting all the arms I could in St. Eustatia as I well
knew our situation. A large supply of arms and cloathing may be had by
this from the West Indies provided we can make remittances—three
thousand stand I am offered and one thousand suits of cloathing.
Should the present plan of importing necessaries still continue to be
countenanced by the general assembly, I shall prepair to remit as much
as possible, tho’ I doubt vessels cannot be procured—freighting at the
present extravigant prices will not be so advantageous as purchasing. If
the latter be practicable, I must draw on you for money—I will send you
the price currant of articles for the West India market by the next
opportunity.
A Continental brigantine was cut out from Saby by some British
privateers tho’ opposed by the fire from the fort, she has been since
demand(ed?) but refused—it was suggested that the Captain, —— Ashmead,
and some of his men went into the fort and assisted in protecting their
vessel, the answer of the governor of St. Kitts to the demand is
humourous; he congratulated the governor of Saby[25] on the restoration
of the island seized by the rebel Americans.
Part of the French fleet have arrived at Martinique, but we had no
account of the Count, some supposed he had sailed for Europe others to
South America.
We had various reports from Europe which as I recollect I send you—the
Dutch have been repeatedly solicited to take part with Britain, they
evade it as much as possible, it is said they have given as a reason
that they did not think the present plans & intention of the British
ministry to be to the interest either of Britain or her allies, but
manifestly to their ruin and discredit, and therefore although they were
and are at all times ready to act for the interest of great Britain, yet
for the reasons before named they must now declare themselves neuter and
protest against the proceedings of —— This is credited by some in St.
Eustatia. They further report that the dutch Embassador has ben recalled
from the British Court in consideration of a demand of some vessels
carried into the Texel by John Paul Jones; the governor of St. Eustatius
imagines that the Dutch will take part with Britain.
The grand convention will be held at Versailles in April—the King of
Prussia & Empress of Russia have promised their mediation, the British
fleet are in Torbay and do not expect to put to sea till April. John
Paul Jones who sailed from Brest in a fifty gun ship with some frigates
went north about and did infinite damage to the British vessels—he fell
in with the convoy from Norway and took the Seraphis, a new fifty gun
ship, and the Countess of Scarborough of 20—Jones engaged the Seraphis
two hours, and the whole time they were so near that the guns touched
the opposite vessel. Jones lost one hundred and Eighty two men, and
Pearson 189. Jones’ ship sunk the next day and he went with his prizes
into the Texel, there to refit them. Sir Joseph York demanded them,
which was so strenuously opposed by the French minister that his demand
was refused and repeatedly. Jones was received with every imaginable
mark of respect by the Dutch.
I expect the pleasure of seeing your excellency within a few days—excuse
the imperfection of my letter—I am with due respect—
Dear Sir,
Your most obed’t Serv’t
BENJAMIN HAWKINS.
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