New London April 25th 1775
Sir/
Agreable to your Desire I have Sent up Eighty Three Barrels of Powder to Colo Jed. Huntington2 Containg about 108 Each the Remainder is in this Town I hourly Expect Thirty Two Barrels more that I have Account of the Capt having it on bord the Remainder of what Moneys was in My hands Capt [William] Packwood left with Capt Jno M'Shibbin who is in One of my Vessels in the West Indies to Lay out in the first Powder that Arives, he says that a large Quantity was Daly Expected he purchased all that Could be had and thought it best to push home with this Rather than Tarry Longer ー this Quantity he Obtain'd through the Influence of the Famous Palunkey (who was An Old Commander of a Private Tear the Warr before Last[)] who Prevailed with the Governour of the Cape to take it out of the Kings Store ー In Short Packwood Says the French Seem to be Disposed in the Islands to Assist in this way as Much as in their power, I Intend he Shall Sail Again for the Cape Next Week and I Don't Imagine he will be Gone More than Six weeks If you Intend to have any more Money Laid out in that way it will be a good Oppertunity Tomorrow by the Post I Expect to hear from Phila Relative to Lead I am Sir [&c.]
Nathanl Shaw Junr
1. Nathaniel and Thomas Shaw Letters and Papers, NLCHS.
2. Jedediah Huntington (1743-1818), Colonel of Connecticut Minute Men before Boston.