I hope you will pardon me for my presunption to you, but the Subject being so Interesting to the Public, I take the liberty to Write you. I had the Honour to dine with you in Grosvenors square about Four Years ago, and then some conversation passed about the Manufactorys of America.1 I acquainted you that I imported some Machiens for Carding and Spinning of Wool and Cotton, and had left them in my absence in the posssion of a person in Philadelphia and some British Faitors contrived to get them out of his possesion and sent them back to England. the Public being alarmed caused an enquiry to be made, and finding it to be an object to be noticed, and my Brother haveing been Instructed in England, how to make the different Machines for Manufactoring, the Cityzens of Philadelphia engaged him to make them a Carding Ingine and a Spinning Machine, for which he received a very Insiderable Premium, from that State, and my Brother contrary to my directions entered into an agreement with one Butlar of Philadelphia, who has made several Machines and 349 350 not complied with is agreement I am late from England and have it in my Power to make the Machines on a more compleat plan besides several other Machines that has never been Introdust, in this country provided I can have the benifit of the Same. I understand from a late paper that patents will be granted to any of the first Introdusers of Machienery, and as me and my Brother are the Only persons that are intitled to lay the Claim, for the same Machines of Manufactoring of Wool & Cotton We can perfect the following Machines One that will Break 100 ld Wool twice over Per day which can be worked either by Water or Horse. Another that will card 30 ld Wool Per day. Another that will Spin from 9 to 12 ld wool Per day as fine as can be prodused which we dye any coular fit for the loom and then wove by Spring Shuttles.— Also the following Machine for Manufactoring of Cotton, One that will card 40 ld Per day by hand a horse or Water. Another With 40 Spindles that will draw from the roll 40 ld Per day by the Assistance of 3 Small Boys or girls and a grown person. Another with 84 Spindles that will Spin from 6 to 8 ld of Cotton Per day of a Sufficient Quality for Calicoes Jeans, Or Corduroys, and which we can also riduce so fine as to make good muslin.— I have also to inform you that I made a Spinning Mashine for Wool & Cotton as early as the year 1775 for which the records will Shew that I received a premium of £15 from the State of Pensylvania but was destroyed by the British Troops. I carried on a considirable Manufactory in the time of War and Suplied Mess Mays and Caldwell with a great Quantity of goods I have rote to One Mr John Brown who is a Member of Congress for the district of Kenticke, and crave your Aid and assistance to know how to get my Patent if I am Intitled to, Any.2 if you pleas to favour me with your Answer, direct for me at Mr Jacob Sampson Baltimore3 I am your Hbl Servt

I recieved yours of april 4th and should have wrote sooner but thought it best to wait sometime that I might answer your Queries with more certainty. I thank you for Your Polite & unremitted attention to my Application in favour of Mr Martin B Sohier, Have waited with some degree of impatiance for the result of the Secretary of War’s determination on that subject, Cannot doubt from what you write of his best disposition to serve him, after Your interposition & influence in his favour. but that I shall rest satisfye’d with his Decission—

Commerce & Business in general here is extreamly dull, perhaps it was never more so except at the time of the Port-Bill— Business is supposed not to be so brisk & florishing as it has been for several Years past and many suppose it is in Consequence of the large sums of Money locked up in the different custom houses and by that means kept out of Circulation or for ought we know sent to the Seat of Government— You ask if no Benign influence has as yet been felt in Consequence of the New Goverment— The not assuming the State Debts has had, a most disagreeable and banefull Effect here, and I am perswayded has made more persons disaffected to the New Goverment, than any other matter could possably have done. The long time Congress spent in disputing on the Quakers petition in favour of the Negro’s & the warmth with which it was supported by the Eastern Members—has given great unesiness to many Persons— It being said here that was the cause of sowering the minds of the Southern members against an Assumtion of the State Debts—1 The Price of Bills of Exchange have fallen here 10 pr Cent that is they were 5 pr Cent above parr & are now 5 pr Cent below parr. But it seems this was more by Accendent—(The great demand for Grain from Europe) 352 then from any benign Influencee of the New Government.2 And this has opperated rather against this Town, as large sums of Money, in addition to what is already Shut up has been sent to New York Philida &c to purchase Bills— You inquire if the Ship Carpenters are Employ’d I answer. that they are wholly out Business as are most other Tradesmen, And I assure you the Situation of this Town, is truly Melancholy and Distressing. The sound of the Ax or the Hammer is hardly to be heard in any part of It— The Tradesmen, almost totaly discouraged. No work to be done, High Taxes & no prospect of Releiaf— You will see by Little attention paid to the Choice of Representives but 200 Voters. Then more then 20 Candidates— No list presented or prepared & when called upon to Vote. in general answerd they care’d not who were Chosen, they could not be worse off and, that it was not probable they should be better distress & poverty being thier portion & they appear to me to be quite discouraged—3

Cannot something be done to Encourage the Cod & whale Fisheries—

Must the Ship building be wholly Annihilated in the Eastern States—

Must the Assumtion of the State Debts be giving up for this Sessions—

Will not Congress take some measures that the Monies collected for Imposts may be brought into Circulation again as soon as posable

I am with great esteem & regard / Your most obt Servt