To George Washington from John Carlyle, 20 July 1772
From John Carlyle
Alexa. July 20 1772
Dr Sir
Capt. Brodie woud Inform you the reason I did not Call on You, If he did not I Assure You it was for no Other reason but the great Company I See & heard of at Yr house & I thought myself & my little Companion not In A proper Dress for Straingers You or Yr family I woud have made free with, Therefor hope for Yr Excuse.1
The Captain Comeing Up this Evening Surprised me & tells me You wanted bills of Lading I have filled Up Two as many as I think Necessary Without You Conssigne Yr Cargo to any person on the Iselands In that case you may Take three I have Consigned mine & Mr Daltons Interest on board to the Captain & Mr Adams Joyntly, & therefor take but Two bills of Lading the Freight I Intend is the Curruncy Of the Iseland where the Comodity is Sold & No more.2
I hope Yr Sailes & returns will please You, & that the Vessell may make A Short Voyage for the bennifit of All Concerned, tho’ Mr Lun Washington has not given the Assistance he promised but Suppose he Was Tyerd with harvest & now rejoyceing the Labr is over3—I am with great regard Dr Sir Yr Very Hble Sert
John Carlyle
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter was sent “⅌ Capn Brodie.”
2. GW consigned his part of the cargo to Adams alone and instructed him to use the proceeds to secure slaves and certain tropical products. For the joint trading venture of GW and Carlyle with Daniel Jenifer Adams and Capt. Samuel Brodie, see GW to Adams, this date, and note 1 of that document.
3. Carlyle wrote Lund Washington on 28 June: “I reced yours & Col. Washington shall have Freight for 250 or 80 barrels of flour at 5/ ⅌ barrel. I belive the Vessell will Call at Barbados In her way to Try the Markets but this is Not Yet Determined, If she does She Still goes to Jamaica Where We have Considerable Effects to bring home.
“As to her Dispatch here you may Depend on it. I Expect to have her hove down Chanell & Ready this Week, & hope to have her loaded & to Sail the Week afterwards” (NjMoHP).