I was honoured with your most obliging Favor of the 6th. Decemr.—1 Please to accept of my unfeigned Thanks for your Application to the Commissioners from the Court of Spain, Don Joseph de Viar and Don Joseph de Jaudenes for Permission for the Ship Ascention to proceed to the Havanna with empty Casks & Hoops—

It is with the utmost Regret that I perceive, by their polite Answer to our Memorial, that it was inconsistent with their Authority to grant Licences for the Purposes of our Prayer; and only authorized to give Permission for Provisions when the City was in Want thereof; but they, being well informed that the King’s Magazines and the Market were plentifully supplied, shou’d suspend granting Permissions until the Beginning of February, at which Time we should have the Preference upon Application therefor in Writing.—

I am, unhappily, largely interested in the Debts due in the Havanna of near 24,000 Dollars, and have no Prospect of realizing the Money without getting a Vessel admitted: It therefore becomes necessary to make fresh Application, agreeable to the Commissioners Letter of the 9th Decemr.—for that Purpose we have sent forward to Philadelphia the Bearer Captn. Saml. Chase, Master of the Ship, who will deliver you the Letter referr’d to, and beg with Solicitude your friendly Interest in obtaining our Request, on which our Property principally depends—and as it appears that no Permissions can be granted but for Vessels carrying Provisions and the Season of the Year renders it almost impossible to proceed to Delaware or New-York, the Owners 365 will at their own Expence and Risque freight five or six Hundred Barrels of Flour from New-York to Newport and ship on Board the Ascention for the Havanna on Account of the King, at the most moderate Freight; or otherwise, will purchase, and deliver at the Havanna, to the Government, said Flour, they paying for the same, at the Havanna, only the first Cost, and what Freight may be thought reasonable; or no Freight, if it may be the means of granting our Memorial.— We flatter ourselves that upon one or the other of those Proposals, through the means of your Influence, we shall obtain the Permission.— It gives us Pain, to be so troublesome, but the Exigency of the Case requires our Exertions.

With every Consideration of the firmest Attachment of Respect & Gratitude— / I am / Your most obedient / and most humble Servant

I have been induced to this delay in acknowledging your Letter of the 23d, inclosing one to you from Mr. Belknap of the 2d. Ulto by a desire to obtain from my memory all the information it might have ever possessed in relation to the error in Docr. Kippis’ life of Capt. Cook.

I was not a member of Congress till March 1780. It is probable therefore that, if his directions to American Commanders, in favor of Capt Cook issued, as is stated, in March 1779, they must have been transmitted to that Body, and undergone its consideration, before I could have been present. After I became a member, nothing was ever done on the subject, as far as my memory can inform me. I do not even recollect that the subject ever fell incidentally, under any public discussion. I have however a pretty strong impression that it occasionally entered into the conversation of the members, as it 366 often did into that of intelligent Citizens out of doors, and that I never heard a sentiment uttered which did not applaud the magnanimity of the idea which considered Capt Cook’s expedition as consecrated to the general good of all Mankind, and consequently not included in the hostilities between particular nations.

I beg leave to suggest to you, Sir, if it has not already occurred, that Mr. Charles Thomson, will be more likely than any other individual to answer the wishes of Mr. Belknap. Besides the general accuracy to be expected from him, he must a Secretary to Congress be particularly intimate with every thing that passed in that Assembly.

With the highest respect and esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, / Your most Obedient humble servant