William Rotch, Sr. letter to Thomas Rotch, Bristol 6 mo 27th 1793

               
  B-163-25
                               Bristol 6 mo 27th 1793
  My dear Son Thomas
                             I have wrote to thy Brothers Saml, &
  Wm pr this same conveyance (the Industry Capy Barney for Boston
                                               her
  long since, expecting she was gone, but find^here, & now on depar=
  =ture gave me oppt to put a Letter of Lydias for thy wife into her
  Bag. I had not time to write thee before, nor have I time or
                   now 
  matter to say such,only this will give you all an account of
  as a little later than before. I came here with thy dr mother &
  Sisters on 6 day last to set them forward for Melford, having engagd
  cousin Saml Starbuck to meet us here & accompany them forward,
  as my presence was necessary in London at acct of the Ospray 
  trail; they left us yesterday at about noon, & got safe over
  the New passage over the Severn, about 10 miles from here, & the ferry about
  3 miles over; I am waiting for a letter fm them, sch I expect will
  come in at noon this day, if safe thus far, intend returning to
  London immediately. I have already wrote Sammy if the Canton
  will serve thee or him or can be sold for a good price, had rather
  it was done - than for her to return with a load of Staves, provided
  the Master & Mate whc suppose are all that are on sages can be 
  made easy, but that all the Staves say 50 or 60wt be got to Bedford
  & kept entire as they will pay well; she has been one of the
  most profitable of our vessels; this would lessen our risque
  of property some in this Country; if she would sell well I think it