[excerpt] …As I am not advised whether those goods are your own property or that of the State & you have never mentioned to me any Expectations of an Event of this kind. I have been greatly at a loss what line of conduct to take on this occasion: & after some deliberation with myself determined to open the Inclosed Letter addressd. to you. supposing that the Advantages of Ascertaining the matter would be my Apology. If not well knowing that your candour & Friendship would Excuse what proceeded from better motives than Curiosity. however after all I am left to form any Integument from the Nature of the Articles & the Circumstances attending the shipping of them. which is said to be done by the special order of Dort Lee & some People of Consequence at the Spanish Court. & these Brigdr. which were sent for the purpose of Importing & all for the Continent, & were quartly unloaded to receive these Goods… In either case I soon took a resolution to lodge them in a place of more safety than this Town is at present conceived to be Inferring from the above that they were designed for the Continent I applied to General Heath for room for them in the Continental Stores at Watertown which are secured by a Guard. & Engaged to gray the Storage if they should be for your own private Account, he has sent an Officer to prepare room for them. You has sent An Officer to prepare room for them. You may depend on the most partiual Attention to this matter & that the same Care shall be taken of them as if my own [2] I shall discharge the freight primage & all other Charges The Fret & primage are the only ones at present that can As certain which as below. and if there Goods are not to be disposed off may be paid to Messor. Willing & Morris & Compy & their draft on me for the same will be more Agreeable to me than the Money here. As I must soon make them a remittance for Effects in my hands I shall be glad to receive your Orders on this or any other Occasion & to have any Intelligence you can give me particularly f your welfare …