Item 40: Letter from unknown to Majors Gibson and Broadfoot, merchants in slave trade (removed to Legal Box #1) , 1805 August 7

Item — Box: 12, Folder: 40

Staff Only

Letter from unknown to Majors Gibson and Broadfoot, merchants in slave trade (removed to Legal Box #1) , 1805 August 7

Dates

Created: 1805 August 7

Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities

Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Okay; general discoloration of document from over time; wear and tear along all edges, but nothing severely obstructing text.

Measurements:

12 ¾ in. x 8 in. (closed); 16 in. x 12 ¾ in. Transcript Attempt:

Description:

The following document is a letter, dated August 7, 1805, addressed to Majors William Gibson, a slave-ship captain and merchant, and William Broadfoot, another captain within the slave trade from Scotland and based in Charleston, South Carolina. The letter is stated to be delivered by Captain John Mitchell from the Mars ship involved in the trade. Additionally, the author refers to Mr. John Parker from the Angola ship, a slave trade ship that made multiple voyages transporting enslaved persons from West Africa to the West Indies. In general, Liverpool was a major port for transporting enslaved persons across the Atlantic. The letter discusses transporting enslaved persons to Charleston from these ports, specifically highlighting Gambia, West Africa. The author also lists pricing and payments associated with the transaction.

Location:

Liverpool; Charleston

Transcription:

Liverpool 7 Aug. 1805 Majors Gibson & Broadfoot Charleston Gentlemen This will be delivered to you by Capt. John Mitchell of our Brig the Mars, who is instructed to offer you the sale of his Cargo, provided our Friend Mr. John Parker should not find it convenient to take the charge of it. This preference we feel we owe to Mr. Parker from his disappointment in the non-arrival of our ship the Angola, otherwise from our desire to forward the views and interests of our esteemed Friend Gibson, the Brig would have been dispatched to your immediate address. The Terms Capt. Mitchell is ordered to stipulate for, are as follows. 1st. That you engage to sell that whole of the cargo for immediate payment, either in specie-Produce at the Current Market Price-or good Bills on this Country not exceeding 6 or 9 Months right, all or either of them. 2nd. ______”______ to endorse and guarantee the payment of such Bills, and 3rd. ______”______ to remit the amount sales of the whole Cargo by the return of the Bring, so that the transaction may be definitively closed. For which service we agree to allow you a Commission of 5p cent on the gross amount of the Sales, and 2 ½ p Cent on the Nett amount of your remittance which we are informed is the established Commission on Cargoes Sold for immediate payment; but we are also informed, that it has sometimes been found difficult to sell an entire Cargo for Prompt Payment, and that the factor has been obliged to give a few Months Credit with a small

INSIDE, LEFT SIDE, PAGE 2:

proportion of it; in which case he draws Bills upon his correspondents in this Country for such amount, at a date that may secure him from advance, charging them thereupon 5 p cent in place of 2 1/2, as a compensation for the extended Risk — which we also agree to allow you, should the same occasion occur; but we are very sanguine in the hope, that a Prime Cargo of Gambia Negroes, will command liberal prices, and the most favoured[sic, favored] payments. Should the Produce you may receive in payment exceed the following Prices, we request you will sell it for unexceptionable Bills, provided you can dispose of it at the price you received it. Sea Island Cotton Stained about 6. To 12d according to quality Midling_____12d__16d Best_______18d__20d Upland about 18 cents Price we should not like to meddle with If the Consignment is acceptable to you upon these terms, it will give us much pleasure, as the assurances of many of your friends here have taught us to expect from you the most honorable and Merchant-like conduct. IN this event our mutual Friend, Mein advises your corresponding with Mr. Gibbons of Savannah, that gentleman having made him an offer of £80 Sterling a head for 100 Gambia Negroes, which it was Mr. Meins intention to have supplied him with, could he have sent the Montezuma to Gambia in the place of Angola. You will find that y[ou]r Negroes are furnished with Cloathing[sic, clothing] to guard them against the effect of the cold weather, the cost of it is £150 which you will of course charge to the Purchasers. Of the Bills, you will please to

RIGHT SIDE, PAGE 3 take three sets, delivering one sett[sic] to Capt Mitchell, and sending the other two by the first opportunities, and in regard to Freight, we would not wish you to detain the Mars beyond ten days after your own shipment is compleated[sic, completed]. We request you will keep up advised by every oppor- -tunity of the state of your Market, as well for Produce as for Negroes, it being our intention to follow the Adventure up, provided that you can encourage us to do so. Should Capt. Mitchell apply to you for the payment of his Commissions, you will please to settle with him out of the Bills you may receive in payment of the Negroes, on the following terms, viz. £4 in the £104 on the gross sales of the Cargo, and 2 in the 102 on the Nett Proceeds. We are with respect Sirs Your ob. T. [your obedient servant]-

BACK: Majors. Gibson & Broadfoot Merchants Charleston Favor of Capt. Mitchell