To George Washington from Amos Strettell, 18 August 1772
From Amos Strettell
Philada 18th Augst 1772
Sir,
Your Favour of 14th Currt has enabled me to compleat your Insurance ⅌ the Fairfax as ⅌ above acct (say annexed acct,) so far as the Nature of your Adventure will admit without running you to an extra. advance of præmo subject to conditional Returns afterwards, which on several accts might prove disadvantageous to you, altho’ is often done on risques not commencing in our own Port.1
I presume Coll Lewis may not be returnd Home from the warm springs, & defer writing to him until next Post. I am very Respectfully, Sir, Yr assd frd & servt
Amos Strettell
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW’s letter has not been found, but see Strettell to GW, 4 August. The enclosure reads in part: “Acct of £600. Insurance, procurd by order of Coll Fielding Lewis, on Goods For acct of Coll George Washington, on board the Brigt. Fairfax Samuel Brodie M[aste]r, at and From Virginia to Barbados, at 2½ ⅌Ct præmo, under Agreement that if the above Vessel proceeds to any other Islands, ½ ⅌Ct more Præmium shall be allowd For each Island she touches at; & if she proceeds to Jamaica, 1 ⅌Ct From the last Island she touches at.” The insurers were Samuel Mifflin (£200), Willing & Morris (£200), Robert Morris (£100), and James & Drinker (£100). Strettell’s commission was ½ percent of £600, making the total initial charge £18.5, five shillings being for “Policy.”