Jeremiah Winslow letter to Thomas Rotch, Celte, 12 mo 27, 1806

              B-216-9
page 1

Thos Rotch             Cette 12 mo 27 1806
 Dear friend
                  I am at present in the greatest prossible distress I engaged to deliver the cargo of oil here at a very low price after performing quarantine at Marseille & came here in order to land it, but oweing to our not being furnished with a certificate from French Consul we can do nothing till we hear from Paris, and if the reply should not be favourable I know not what will be my fate. the business has given me so much anxiety that it has impaired my health both of body & mind & I sometimes fear being quite deprived of my reason for I shall make such a sacrifice of property as never was made before on such a cargo, and I am sure it would affect no people more sensibly than my owners and I consider myself ruined forever. 
  and as it is doubtful whether I live to see my native Country, If I do not feel better than at present, I request thou would take charge of all the papers in my Desk at Cap Parker's (in case I shold not be favoured to return) destroy those which are of no consequence & send the letters from my family to them again, and to secure what I owe thee thou must call on Thos Rodman who is my Attorney & has property enough in his hands to pay my debts. I curse the day that curiosity tempted me to embark for Europe and frequently think that I could not have