I am favored with thy printed letter of the 9 April & also this morning a duplicate thereof via Liverpool. In consequence of thy directions I have sent to the different Ports in my district to obtain the needful information. For the present, perhaps it may be proper to inform thee that American shipping pay double the Light money that English Ships do. All other Shipping are on the same footing as Americans, as to paying double duty. Our Harbour dues, for English is 2s./ 6d. & for Americans 4s./ 6d. ⅌ Ship. We have no other charges on shipping. The Pilotage varies. Both English & Americans make the best agrement they can.

Permit me to remark that there is one grievance to which American Shipping are liable. I allude to Vessels touching here for orders to learn the best market, two of which that arrived here were put under Quarantine, in consequence of the general orders of Government at the time the Fever was so violent in the United States. One of these Vessels was sent to London & the other to Lisbon & tho’ neither discharged their Cargoes here, yet there was paid £51. 19s. 6d. & £32. 14s. d. for Quarantine duties as ⅌ particulars annexed. Now this was extremely hard on the concerned, & if the Vessels ha⟨d⟩ been put under Quarantine but for one day, the same duty would have been insisted on. In most cases the American Ships lay too off this Harbour for orders, in which case no duty or lights of any kind are demanded, & if bound to a foreign port the whole thereof is saved. I presume no Quarantine duty should be charged unless their Cargoes were landed in Great Britain.

Many Men have been impressed in this district, under an idea that they were Englishmen. Some afterwards entered on boa⟨rd⟩ the Ships of War, some have been released & others kep’t. Those that have been so kep’t have been applied for & the needful information given to my friend Erving at London. Some of those have not Certificates & when that is the case, it will be found a ve⟨ry⟩ difficult matter to get them released. I recommend that the American Seamen should be furnished with Certificates of their Citizenship before they leave America. It will save much troub⟨le⟩ & save them from being impressed in most cases.

I expect American Shipping will soon be in great demand in consequence of Hostilities between this Country, France &ca. A great number of French & Dutch Vessels have been sent into the western Ports within the last two weeks, with some Neutrals supposed to have French property onboard. Bag flour 52s./ @ 54s./ ⅌ Sack of 2 1/2 [. . .] Rice & Tobacco sell pretty well. Prices of grain are getting ⟨u⟩p in the Baltic & Holland, but in Italy, Spain & Portugal they have agreat glut of Wheat & flour & prices low. Our Harvest promises pretty well, but the prices rather looking up, in consequence of the War.

The British fleet I believe is now blocking up Brest. I do not recollect any thing further for thy detention & Remain very respectfully Thy assured Friend,