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細節
HANCOCK, John, Signer (Massachusetts). Autograph letter signed ("John Hancock," with flourish) to Aaron Lopez (1731-1782) Boston, 24 June 1771. 1 full page, 4to, integral address panel addressed by Hancock ("Aaron Lopez Esq Mercht. at Newport Rd. Island"), small seal hole, otherwise fine.
HANCOCK TO LOPEZ. To one of the most influential merchants of the pre-Revolutionary colonies, Hancock writes concerning a vessel which Lopez had asked be detained in port for a special cargo: "Having been some time Confin'd to my Bed with a Fever, & still Confin'd to my Room I hope will plead my Excuse that I have not till now addressed you in Return. I am scarcely able to attend to any kind of Business." He has received Lopez's letter "advising a Prospect you had of a Freight for the Aaron to Bristol, and Requesting she might be stop'd if not sail'd until I should hear from you or Mr. Cruger of New York. I am now to Acquaint you that the ship Aaron sail'd for North Carolina which is an unfortunate Circumstance as this Freight is far more Eligible than a Cargo of Naval Stores, but I was fond of Dispatching her as early as possible. I Rec'd a Letter last Night from Mr. Cruger desiring me if the Aaron was sail'd, to order her immediately to you, which I should have strictly Complied with had the ship been here. I shall write a few lines to Mr. Cruger by this Day's Post & Acquaint him of the Departure of the Ship."
Lopez lived secretly as a Jew in Portugal before emigrating to Rhode Island in 1752. Beginning as a dealer in candles, he rapidly expanded his business into shipping and export-import, and by 1770 "had so extended his commerce that his vessels could have been seen riding the bounding main to Jamaica, Hispaniola, Surinam, Honduras, Newfoundland, England, Holland, Spain, Portugal, the Azores and Canaries" (DAB). Henry Cruger, mentioned in the present letter, was a Bristol merchant in partnership with Lopez. Lopez's extensive commercial empire unraveled during the Revolution and he drowned accidentally in 1782.
HANCOCK TO LOPEZ. To one of the most influential merchants of the pre-Revolutionary colonies, Hancock writes concerning a vessel which Lopez had asked be detained in port for a special cargo: "Having been some time Confin'd to my Bed with a Fever, & still Confin'd to my Room I hope will plead my Excuse that I have not till now addressed you in Return. I am scarcely able to attend to any kind of Business." He has received Lopez's letter "advising a Prospect you had of a Freight for the Aaron to Bristol, and Requesting she might be stop'd if not sail'd until I should hear from you or Mr. Cruger of New York. I am now to Acquaint you that the ship Aaron sail'd for North Carolina which is an unfortunate Circumstance as this Freight is far more Eligible than a Cargo of Naval Stores, but I was fond of Dispatching her as early as possible. I Rec'd a Letter last Night from Mr. Cruger desiring me if the Aaron was sail'd, to order her immediately to you, which I should have strictly Complied with had the ship been here. I shall write a few lines to Mr. Cruger by this Day's Post & Acquaint him of the Departure of the Ship."
Lopez lived secretly as a Jew in Portugal before emigrating to Rhode Island in 1752. Beginning as a dealer in candles, he rapidly expanded his business into shipping and export-import, and by 1770 "had so extended his commerce that his vessels could have been seen riding the bounding main to Jamaica, Hispaniola, Surinam, Honduras, Newfoundland, England, Holland, Spain, Portugal, the Azores and Canaries" (DAB). Henry Cruger, mentioned in the present letter, was a Bristol merchant in partnership with Lopez. Lopez's extensive commercial empire unraveled during the Revolution and he drowned accidentally in 1782.