Cadiz November 8th. 1753 To Mr. Henry Leddel, Sr.,

I conclude you have recd. the Letter I wrote you from Fayal by Capt. Webster, Dated Septr. 18. In which I informd you that I was oblig'd to proceed to Cales, where I arrived on the 11 day of Octr. after a long passage, & applied to Messrs. Kemp & Pickreen. I found the Marketts very dull so that after laying a Week wth. the prospect of a better price I was obliged to accept of sixty five Current Dollars pr. Thousand. It was a week before they began to unlade me & are not thoroughly done yet, & this Delay has hapned in Spight of the reapeted Solliciations of Mr. Pickreen, the Broker & my Self, he being determined to take his own time In Recieving the Staves. I find Commoditys very dear here perticularly Sherry Wine, so dear that I am sure it never can answer to bring so large a quantity as you mention in your Orders. I am exceedingly Surpriz'd to see the date of my Letter but if ever I see you I doubt not but to satisfy you that this great unexpected delay is the effect of irristable hard Fortune. It cannot be long before I shall sail for Boston where I hope to arrive in safety Notwithstanding the difficulty of the Season. Capt. Cluston in a sneaw1of Capt. Davis is arrived here from Bilboa. Capt. Bethune is gone up the Straits. Nothing more at present but remain yr. obliged humble Servt.,

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

LbC ; addressed: "To Messrs. Isaac Freeman & Henry Leddel Mercht. Boston P. favr. Capt Aston.2

1.

Snow.

2.

Perhaps the Captain Austin who entered the Port of Boston from Cadiz, Jan. 12, 1743 (Boston Evening-Post, Jan. 14, 1754).