of ſuch treatment by inſurrection, &c. When you conſider that on the health of your ſlaves, almoſt your whole voyage depends; for all other riſques, but mortality, ſeizures and bad debts, the underwriters are accountable for;—you will therefore particularly attend to ſmoking your veſſel, waſhing her with vinegar, to the clarifying your water with lime or brimſtone, and to cleanlineſs among your own people, as well as among the ſlaves.
"As the factors on the coaſt have no laws but of their own making, and of courſe ſuch as ſuit their own convenience, they therefore, like the Iſraelites of old, do whatſoever is right in their own eyes; in conſequence of which you ought to be very careful about receiving gold duſt, and of putting your cargo into any but the beſt hands, or if it can be avoided, and the ſame diſpatch made, into any hands at all, on any credit. If you find that any ſaving can be made by bartering rum for ſlops, and ſupplying your people with ſmall ſtores, you will do it; or even if you cannot do it without a loſs, it is better done than left undone; for ſhifts of clothes, particularly in warm climates, are very neceſſary. As our intereſt will be conſiderable, and as we ſhall make inſurance thereon, if any accident ſhould prevent your following the track here pointed out, let it be your firſt object to proteſt publicly, why, and for what reaſon you were obliged to deviate. You are to have four ſlaves upon every hundred, and four at the place of ſale; the priviledge of eight hogſheads, and two pounds eight ſhillings per month;—theſe are all the compenſations you are to expect for the voyage.
"Your firſt mate is to have four hogſheads privilege, and your ſecond mate two, and wages as per agreement. No ſlaves are to be ſelected out as priviledged ones, but muſt riſe or fall with the general ſales of the cargo, and average accordingly. We ſhall expect to hear from you, by every opportunity to Europe, the Weſt Indies, or any of theſe United States; and let your letters particularly inform us, what you have done, what you are then doing, and what you expect to do. We could wiſh to have as particular information as can be obtained, reſpecting the trade in all its branches on the coaſt; to know if in any future time, it is probable a load of N. E. Rum could be ſold for bills of exchange on London, or any part of Europe; or, for gold duſt; and what deſpatch in this caſe might be made.
"You will be careful to get this information from gentlemen of veracity, and know of them if any other articles would anſwer from