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Halifax 9 December 1820
My Lord
Upon reading a notice subscribed by the Secretary of the province regulating all ship owners who would undertake to let to [freight?] a vessel for the purpose of conveying from this province of a number of blacks to the island of Trinidad to send in their proposals. I in conformity to such notice did endow to him a statement and description of the quantity of provisions which if my offer should be accepted of each individual should be supplied with that upon comparing any statement with others that had been handed in it appeared that mine was by far the most reasonable, but in consequence of Mr George showing my proposals to Mr Starr who had previously sent in his and finding my charges infinitely more reasonable than his, Mr Starr withdrew his first statement and sent in another with the [illegible] difference of five shillings upon each head as by reference to the said statements will more fully appear.

Under these circumstances and after having to a considerable expence for the letting out of the vessel for the above purpose I submit to your Lordship whether if I now on the same terms and conditions as is specified in Mr Starrs statement will undertake the voyage I am not justly entitled to the preferince mine evidently in the fist instance being a more reasonable undertaking and

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