William Rotch, Sr. letter to Capt Prince Coleman, New Bedford, 1 mo 18th 1796

               
A-21-1
New Bedford in the United States of
  
America --------------- 1st mo 18th 1796
Capt Prince Coleman
                          Thou being Master
  of our Ship Ann, we desire thou would embrace
  the first opportunity to leave this Port and proceed
  on a whaling voige to the Pacific Ocean, and as the
                       will
  voige will be long, it ^ be necessary, perhaps more that
  once, to touch at some Port or place under the Govern=
  =ment of such Nation on whose Coast thou may think
  proper to Fish, to recruit the Ships company and
  preserve them from the Scurvey, or other indispen=
  =sible causes; in such circumstances, we advise thee
  to go boldly into such place as may appear most
  eligible to answer thy purposes; and if any objection
  or prevention should appear in the Officers or Subjects
  of Such Kingdom or State, we advise thee to demand
  in the most positive terms; that liberty that every
  nation hath a right to claim (not at War with
  each other) by the Laws of Nature: at the same
                         that
  time strictly observing ^ the conduct of the Ships com=
                               just
  =pany may be such as to give no ^ occasion of offence;
  and particularly to suffer no commerce to be carried
  on contrary to the Laws of the Countries you may
  have occasion to visit, but in all things let the
  Ships Company act with that circumspection,
  becoming the dignity of the Citizens of the United
  States of America:  so wishing thee a good