note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

But many unavoidable difficulties have concurred to render
all his endeavors in a great measure ineffectual,---
Such as, the lateness of the season before the number of
blacks, and the consequent quality of tonnage could be
ascertained , the numbers that are to embark, the few vessels
that are at present in the country fit for the purpose and those
in general having plan'd out voyages for their winter
employment as usual, which they must abandon to go upon
this service, These circumstances added to prejudices on
account of the unhealthiness of the voyage, the injury that
single bottomed ships are certainly expose to from the
worm on the coast of africa, and no Cargoes to be had
nor employment for them these after discharging the blacks,
and that from the commencement of their Outfit for the
voyage untill their return, will in all probability take
up six months; are arguments which have all been
forcibly urged by the Ship owners in support and
justification of the terms they demand. ---
And for a conviction that what they set forth
is generally true, together with my own knowledge of the
great disproportion of expence infitting out ships in this
Country for long voyages, to what it is in Europe, and the
high rate of Seamens wages, are reasons that have

weighed (con't)