SAMUEL SPARROW ~ 
18TH-CENTURY CAPE BRETON ISLAND 

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JUNE 26, 1785

C-1456

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c1456/1107?r=0&s=1
http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c1456/1108?r=0&s=1

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_104684
 
[Letter of Sparrow, Halifax, re DesBarres rejection of Sparrows offer of Procurement of New England Lumber, Bricks and Lime]

[p. 1151]

... Halifax 26 June 1785

"I am honored with your Excellency's favor of the 7^th. Instant and am exceedingly sorry that my great Zeal* for the Welfare of the New Settlement should be so unsuccessful. At the same time I cannot but acknowledge my self  obliged to you by Your wishes to serve my Interest, which has been manifested in the polite Attention Shewn my Agent M^r Wilkinson. +

I hope at least you will be able to favor so far as to take any part of the Lumber that may arrive in British Bottoms."

[NOTES]

* This great Zeal [crossed out] in fact originated in mean penury, it ripened into [crossed out] Deceits and Impositions by [foc]wning Treacheries, and concluded in vile Scurrility and the foulest Defamation

+ this Agent of Mr Sparrow by the Complacency of his Conduct, had ingraciated himself  among the Officers and Inhabitants in general - Lands eligibly situated for commercial Speculations, and the purposes of Culture, were granted to him, and personal attentions Shewn - He had transacted Business to a considerable Amount in [p. 1152] in [sic] his own name and had passed himself for a Merchant of substance and property. _

Mr Sparrow having secured all the Advantages he could, discovered at last that Wilkinson stood engaged to him merely as a clerk, nor was he invested with powers to do or transact any Business in Cape Breton but in his (Sparrow's) name, and his sole Use and Benefit  - Vide M^r Sparrow Lettter dated 27 April 1786

This fraudelent Mode of contrieving a Credit without either property or Responsibility is not unfrequent among the Upstarts in America - Many, an unsuspecting London Merchant has been duped by it - This upon this very unfair Ground of arguing that M^r Sparrow has hitherto refused to explain the Transaction of his Wilkinson with Perry, which having been settled, pretending to be entitled to all the profits arising from them, but not to be responsible nor obliged to render any Acco^t because Wilkinson had traded in his own Name, without his (Mr Sparrow's) authority.

[Source: DesBarres Papers, Series 5, M23, F 1-5, Volume 6, Accounts, 1767-1794, June 26, 1785, p. 1151-1152]

FOR CONTEXT SEE:

LETTER DATED APRIL 27

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