(seq. 20)

Boston 8^th Aprille 1745.

{Colonel} {Benjamin} Payton

Sir
This acknowledges the Receipt of your favour
{per} {Captain} Bacon 22^d March. Have also rec'd your Hides & Skins & have just
disposed of them. Have not as yet weighed the Hides, they wanting
considerable drying. They hold out as to the Number, the Skins have
weighed, but find wanting the weight you put them at in your
Letter by 19[?] & was oblidged to separate them in weighing. [?] of them
were very poor & would fetch but half price. The rest sold for 8/.
[?]. They would have fetch'd more sometime ago, but there is a great
Number in now, which has lower'd the price, but shall send you acc^tt
Sales of Hides & Skins together {per} {Captain} Bacon, whom I shall send in a
Vessell to {Mister} Guin. Herein you have inclosed Invoice & Bills Lading
for 1 {hogshead} [NE?] Rum & [?] Molasses & a Negro man named (Paris) {amounting}
to [pound symbol]250.10.2. (old Tenor), which hope will prove to Content. Rum &
Molasses are very much risend here lately, but I gave the Cash for
both, & so got them as cheap as possible. As to the Negro you cant
but like him. To be sure he is as likely a Fellow as any in Boston. He's
Two & twenty years of age, & is sold for no other Reason but because
he is impudent & his Master being in years cant manage him. He is
guilty of no Vice & he is also very Cheap. About a Month ago I boug^t
a New Negro Boy for myself & gave One hundred & fifty pounds for
him, who is a Child to this. I paid the Cash down for him or could not
have had him so Cheap. Upon the whole I suppose you will falle
in my Debt about [pound symbol]70 [?] but cant tell exactly. I should not have
avanced the Cash for any Man, but as you wrote me what was over
you would remitt me directly, & as I expect further Consignments from
you, I have done what is not Customary. As to what you wrote me
respecting a Vesselle using the Trade, I like very well & have made it
my business to look out for one, but they are very scarce at present
there being a great many gone on the expedition against Cape Breton

I am now about buying a Vessell for {Mister} Guin of 70 Tuns, who wrote
me to hire him one about that [Cigness?] & if he liked her he would buy
her & keep her constantly in the Trade. If she should not suit him shall
give you the offer of her, but shall write you ^^at large when I send her-
& will be look^g out in the mean Time for another in Case he should
take her. I perceive you have joined with {Captain} Stone in sending to
{Mister} Hubbard & myself for a Vesselle, w^ch shall send as soon as possible Vessells
being scarce as I wrote above. Whatever you send here, would be glad
you would consign me singly, not being in partnership with any one
& doubt not I shall transact your business to your Satisfaction, as I am sure
I can make as quick Returns as any Man & shall always be ambitious of
so doing. Please to accept my hearty Service to yourself & Family to {Mister} Snoad
& I am with offers of further Service & due Respect

Sir
{your} {Very} {humble} {Servant}

Tarr @ 45/. Pitch 55/. [?] {barrels} Tallow @ 2/6 Hides 2[?] [?]
Dear Skins 8/. [?] drest {Ditto} 14/. [?]

{per} {Captain} Coker
Wade