Preliminary Chapter. 



xliu 



By the inclosed papers, over which you will be pleased to cast your <•>(>, 

 you will perceive that last year we had intended to i>ut our desi<,ni in «'.\«<ution, 

 but by the extremity of the Aviuter and other accidents it was jiostponcd to tlir 

 next year, at which time, as we have bought a vessel and all other material, and 

 engaged a navigator and mariners here, we shall proceed iu the allaii-, and \Wa- 

 patch the vessel from here the latter end of IMarcli, andare in great lioix-s, by 

 avoiding mistakes of former attemirts, and imrsuing, as we tliink, moic ]»roj)«'r 

 measures, to be able to effect the discovery of the passage, or, at least, i)ut it out 

 of doubt whether there is one or no. We have been the more encouraged in this 

 attempt by the consideration that, in case our search for the passage should be 

 fruitless, we might strike out a lucrative trade with the coast of Lal)rador; but 

 we, to our great surprise, are informed we are like to be dej)rived of the proposed 

 trade by means of a scoundrel of a parson, one James Sterling, who last sum- 

 mer took his passage to London, and there represented the advantage of the 

 trade to the Labrador coast in such a light to Messrs. Ilanbury, IJucliaiuuj, and 

 others, that it is said they have applied to the Crown for an exclusive i)atent. 

 This same Sterling, who is a Church of England minister at I^ewtown, Md., 

 was concerned with us in the original undertaking, and subscribed to bear ])art 

 of the expense j but after he had by frequent conversations extracted from the 

 person we chiefly depend ui^on for executing the design, all or chief ]>art of tlie 

 intelligence that he could give, he has been base enough to endeavour to circum- 

 vent us. As a proof of that I assert, I here enclose his original letter, wrote with 

 his own hand, to Mr. Benjamin Franklin. We have also here our paper of sub- 

 scription for the carrying on of the undertaking, signed by the said Sterling ; 

 notwithstanding which, as I said before, he made a voyage to London, and for 

 his discovery and the proposals he laid before the above Gentlemen, lie has, 

 though a parson, been rewarded with a collectorship of the customs at the head of 

 the bay. We conceive ourselves very ill used by this false brother ; have there- 

 fore presented a petition to His Majesty, which comes herewitli, praying that 

 no patent for an exclusive trade be granted, which is humbly submitted to yoiu- 

 consideration, and I am desired to request that you will please to get it presented 

 if you judge it will answer any good end. The expense attending the sollicitation, 

 &c., I will take care of, with thanks to discharge. Yoiu- kind interposition in our 

 behalf will confer a favor on many of the most considerable merchants of this 

 place, and j)articularly on 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



WILL. ALLEN. 



