Second Voyage of the Columbia & should it not we could run for Boston. Accordingly about 9 o'Clock we weigh'd with a heavy gale all day from NE to SE & about 10 o'Clock at night we came to anchor in the Light house Channel. This morning we again weigh'd & run into this place were we are safe at anchor impatiently awaiting for a fair wind. All on Board are well & hearty. Capt Gray's best respects to you & the [Thus ends the original.] On board the Ship Columbia at Sea in Latitude 50° No. Longitude 24° West November 13th 1790 Sir We sail'd from Nantasket road the morning after we left you with a fair wind. Mr. Woodward did not arrive before we sail'd and we thought it not worth while to wait for him, consequently we did not get the beans & other things you sent. Capt Gray wishes you Sir to call at the Custom House for the Ship Columbia's Grand Chop 1 or China clearance which he left there when he enter'd the Ship (Capt Magee 2 or Mr Perkins 3 can tell it) and send it out to Canton by the first good safe hand as he expects should he go to Canton to save at least half the duties by having it. We are all pretty well the Gen- tlemen join us in best respects to you & the owners. We are y r most h bl S* Robert Gray John Hoskins iThe original meaning of "chop" is a stamp or seal; hence its secon- dary meaning: a clearance or pass bearing the seal of the officer by whom it was issued. The Grand Chop or Red Chop was the port clear- ance All vessels complained of these whimsical Chinese restrictions; see Capt. Cook's Third Voyage (Dublin ed. 1784) Vol. 3, p. 427 et seq.; Marchand's Voyage (London, 1801), Vol. 2, p. 96 et seq. 2 Of the ship Margaret of Boston, which was on the coast in 1792. 3 Thomas Handasyd Perkins of Boston, member of the great Chinese house of Perkins & Co.
