To George Washington from John Brown, 9 July 1778
From John Brown
Providence July 9th 1778
Dr Sr
I being a Small part Concern’d in a prize Ship Arived at the port of Boston with a Cargo of Maderia wine and haveing lately ben told that Good wine was not to be bot at or near Your Camp, have taken the Liberty to present You with a Butt Qt 157 Gs. which was picked out by Collo. More, as the Best in the whole Cargo which Consisted of about 29,000 Gallons the Same was well Cassed up and Forworded by Thoms Chace D.Q.M. Genl as pr Copy of his Recept Inclosed,1 I wish it Safe to Your hands, & Hartily Congrattulate You on the Late Signel Success of our Arms in the Jerseys and Most Sincearly wish You a Continuation of the Devine Favour and that You May Long Live to Injoy this most Happey Free and Independent Empire which You have in a Very Great Meisure ben the Cause of Establishing. I am with the Graitest Respect Dr Sr Your Most Obt Humble Servt
John Brown
P.S., the Butt is Marked on the Bulge, JB to GW.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed receipt, dated June 1778, indicates that Thomas Chase sent the wine to Fishkill, N.Y., to be forwarded to GW by Udny Hay (DLC:GW). A butt of wine for GW was received at Fishkill on 29 July (receipt of Josiah Nichols, that date, NN: George Washington Papers). The prize ship was probably the brig “laden with wine” that arrived at Boston on 13 June after being captured by the Rhode Island privateer Blaze-Castle (Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal, 15 June).