The house of the most extensive reputation, concerned in the tobacco
trade, and on the firmest funds, is that of Messrs. Ross and Pleasants
at Richmond, in Virginia. If it should be concluded on your part to make
any attempt of this kind, and to address yourselves to these gentlemen,
or any others, it would be best to write them your ideas, and receive
theirs, before you make either purchases or shipments. A more hasty
conduct might occasion loss, and retard, instead of encouraging, the
establishment of this commerce. I would undertake to write, at the same
time, to these or any other merchants whom you should prefer, in order
to dispose them favorably, and as disinterestedly as possible, for the
encouragement of this essay. I must observe to you, that our vessels are
fearful of coming into the Mediterranean on account of the Algerines:
and that if you should freight vessels, those of the French will be most
advantageous for you, because received into our ports without paying
any duties on some of those articles, and lighter than others on all of
them. English vessels, on the other hand, are distinguished by paying
heavier duties than those of any other nation.
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