65 me much more Powerfully to assist you in recovering your Property in Rumney. If you consent to favor me with the loan of that sum, I sho'd prefer Rills of Exchange if agreeable to you on Account of safe Conveyance and as it is inconvenient for me to leave our affairs here to make a Journey to Quebec this year I wo'd send a Trusty Person to receive them and carry the Securities, or I wo'd propose another method which is more agreable to me which is that one of your sons sho'd make us a visit and inspect the State of your Affairs in this Country and bring the Bills and settle the Affair with me here. I sho'd be very happy to see him here, as would his friends in Portsmouth . is now so far improv'd that he could come conveniently and the Bearer, Mr. Porter , will be a good Pilot. My son, Jack, has been at Cambridge this year and I intend to continue him at that College or at Dartmouth some time longer and then put him to some Lawyer to study the Law. I wish to know your Opinion whether Quebec wo'd be a good place for him .... that Study and if a Place could be had with some Lawyer of eminence there. He is in his eighteenth year and is not wanting in Genius or Acquirements. , Please do write me what news you get from home and whether Peace will continue. I have little news to write \ou only that the Trade between Great Brittain and the States is exceedingly embarrassed by the Acts of Parliament regulating Trade and by the Heavy Duties laid by the States on sundry articles imported from Brittain—& the People uneasy. I expect in little Time we shall have a considerable Trade from Quebec to save the Duty as Vermont hath not laid a Duty on goods imported that way. The Duty on Beaver Hats is five shillings each your Currency and as high on many other articles which wo'd more than pay the Transportation from Britton to this Country. If a Quantity of goods which pay the highest duties in our Ports were to be imported that way, they would bring a considerable profit even to send them to Boston. I have tho'ts of attempting some Trade that way another year. But I must close my tedious Letter with Compliments to your Family in which Mrs. Porter joins me heartily, and am with the sincerest friendship and wishes for your welfare, Dr Sir your most obliged humble servant, ASA PORTER . Major Samuel Holland . It would be interesting to know if Major Holland advanced the loan to Porter, or if Holland's son visited Porter at Haverhill . Haverhill , Cohass, 29 July, 1786. Dear Sir: I have just returned from Hallifax where I had the Pleasure to hear that you and Family were well, but was much aflicted with the News of the Death of your Daughter. Governor Wentworth show me the State of your Claim. Governor Fanning also conversed with me on your Affairs. Lie supposes you will stand no Chance to recover any Thing for Losses in Vermont as there hath been no Confiscation in that State. I conclude your Claim will not be considered till the Commissioners into Canada next year, when I may perhaps be able to render you some Service in that matter. If you can furnish me with the Sum I proposed in my letter, I can make your Interest secure in Vermont for altho' I cant recover near the Quantity of Land I expected, yet I can make that sufficiently valuable by improvements to make your money secure, and I can give you sufficient Security. Have some Expectation of corning into Canada in September. If Gen. Carlton sho'd incline to settle the Country on and the River St . Francis I sho'd wish to be concerned in it, if I could have proper Incouragement I could carry a great number of settlers from this Country. I wish for an Opportunity of con¬ versing with you on this and other matters which sho'd not chose to commit to writing by this Conveyance which is uncertain. If you think it expedient Please to hint this Matter to Gen. Carlton . I sho'd be happy to hear from you if you have Opportunity to write me, have ree'd no Letter from you since last Summer. Mrs. Porter and Family are well and join me in Respects and Compliments to you, Mrs. Holland and Family. I send this by two Indians belonging to St . Francis who are now waiting, must therefore conclude myself in hast, your Sincere Friend & most obliged Humble Servant Samuel Holland , Esq. ASA PORTER . It is unfortunate that copies of the Major's letters to Porter are not now available. There can be no doubt, however, that the Major's lands in the