1787, April 3 - Admiralty Office Has Not See Sparrow, Merchant Of Halifax, But Have No Intention of Purchasing DesBarres Pates and Impressions for 5,000 Pounds as Suggested by DesBarres ((Secretary, Admiralty Office/ Sparrow/J. F. DesBarres)

I have not seen M^r. Sparrow to whom he has made over the Plates & Impressions of his Surveys of the Coasts of North America, but the Lords have no thoughts of purchasing them

Sir

I have received and communicated to my Lords Comm^rs of the Admty your Letter of the 28^th of October last, informing them of your having for the reasons therinmentioned, made over the Plates and Impressions of your Surveys of the Coasts of North America, to M^r. Sparrow a merchant at Halifax make an offer of the said Plates & Impressions to their Lordships for the Consideration of Five Thousand Pounds; And in return I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you that they have not yet seen M^r. Sparrow; but that they have no thoughts of purchasing the said Plates and Impressions, I am etc. PS

PS I have also received the Duplicate of your Letter above mentioned

[Source: Admiralty 2, Secretary's Department, Out-Letters, Secretary's Common Letters, Volume 757, April 3, 1787, p. 337 - NAC Reel B-4551)