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Halifax July 21 1815
Sir
Having noticed in the Gazette of the 12th Instant your advertizement to Gazette Sunday this day for Victualing the Negroes of Melville Island, after the expiration of my present Contract with you for that purpose I beg leave to state to you that under the Presumption that the Contract would be continued for a longer Period than three months, I had Purchased and have now in hand a considerable quantity of every article comprised in the Ration now offered to those Negroes, I was also induced for the same Reason to Purchase Utensils to a considerable amount, for the use of the Hospital as also for those in Health, which I should not have done had I not calculated upon the Contract being continued and having understood from yourself that you had no cause of complaint during the continuance of my Contract, but that you had advertized it merely to establish a price, I am therefore induced to Tender to you a continuance of my Contract at the lowest Rate of my Tender which