A few days ago I received for answer to my letter in which I communicated your very kind instruction to encourage a Bms Settlement at 96, in the State of S. Carolina to the Elders' Conference of the Unity, that as a General Synod would meet in June '89 and there were more invitations of that nature, it would be referred to that Synod. We will therefore dear Sir, patiently wait for the result and pray, Thy Will be done.

ETTWEIN TO WILLIAM BELL, MAY, 1788.

MR WM BELL

Sir, I received a Letter from my much respected Friend Henry Laurens, d. d. Apr. 5th. He sent a barrel of Indigo to Mr M. Weiss the Dyer here. Mr Laurens writes the repayment of £73-9-9 S. Car. Sterling, which at present differs from British 121⁄2 Pr Cent, may be made to Mr Wm Bell in Philad M1 M. Weiss will pay you as soon as possible by the hand of Mr Haga with interest from the 12th of March to the Day of repayment. I desired him to pay 20 Dollars for the Shoes and six Dollars for leather Gloves, and to send you the Receipt for it. Mr Laurens writes the sample of Shoes from Bethlehem which were sent by Mr Bell did not equal in quality the Shoes which came directly from Phiadelphia. I should say did not equal in appearance, for I have heard no complaint of the Wear. One of our Shoemakers has 30 Pair on hand which he now would sell for 7/ a Pair. He says they are good & strong.

Sir

BELL TO ETTWEIN, MAY 17, 1788.

PHILADELPHIA May 17th, 1788.

Your Esteemd letter covering one for Mr. Laurens came duly to hand-note the Contents-your letter will be forwarded the first opportunity-Mr. Laurens has not sent the Measures to make the shoes to-Observe what you say about the price 7/ last year I paid no more than 7/-Also observe you say Mr. Weiss will pay £73.9.9 allowing him a deduction of 121⁄2 Cent for the difference of money-am with great respect your most Obt. Huble Servt. WILLIAM BELL.

The Revd. Bishop Ettwein.

Sir

BELL TO ETTWEIN, JUNE 17, 1788.

PHILADELPHIA June 17th 1783.

I received a letter from our mutual Friend Mr. Laurens in which he tells me he purchased some Indigo for your account— he says that the common Exchange between paper and hard money was 121⁄2 Cent-therefore would not Charge more-he passed some in payment and was only allowed 5 Cent-on which principal he thinks 315 dollars will only reimburse him for what he paid for the Indigo --I here inclose you an abstract of his letter he does not Demand more than you have paid— but is willing to receive the 315 dollars should it meet your approbation as he conceives he paid that sum for the Indigo-on the other side you have a State of the "-should there be any thing in which I can be usefull you are at Liberty to command your most obt. Huble Servt.

73. 9. 9 South Carolina money is

WILLIAM BELL.

112. 10. 734 Pennsylvania-which is 300. dollars the above at Cent discount

LAURENS' BILL TO GODFREY HAGA.

Bishop Ettwein, on whose account I have Shipped or ordered to be shipped on board the Philadelphia Cap' Strong 279b 10, 10, of fine Indigo at 5/3-Cask & 5/- £73. 9. 9. S Carolina Money the Value of which or any Sum agreeable to the Course of Exchange I request you will receive and place to my credit, I lately adjusted an in Charleston in which a discount 5 per Cent was made for Gold or Dollars-but all things considered the Bishop might pay me the full Sum 315 Dollars-..

BELL TO ETTWEIN, APRIL 12, 1790.

THE REVEREND BISHOP ETTWEIN

Sir

I

PHILAD 21 April 1790.

rec. 6 May, Sep. 8th

received a letter from the Honble Henry Laurens Jun'. dated Mepkin 25 Feby 1790 from which I find I must be under the necessity of being troublesome to you knowing you to be a particular Friend of his Father, & hope you will pardon the freedom I now take. When in my power to render you any Acceptable service I will with pleasure, & will thank you to command me

Am Sir Your M°. Obt. hble Serv'.

WILLIAM BELL.

Abstract of Mr. Henry Laurens Jun'. letter

I have now to request another favour of you, Which is thisto procure for me a Model of the Water Mill in the Moravian Settlement at Bethlehem, So far as it is made use of in the Manufacture of Hemp. The general Account which I have heard of this Machine is as follows-"at Bethlehem in Pennsylvania the Moravians have erected a Water Mill, Which by means of one large Wheel carries on at the same time four Manufactories, one of Hemp, one of Cotton & each in distinct apartments of a large building adjoining"

pur

Hemp is an Article Which probably, if Indigo should continue to depreciate, must be the resort of many Planters in this Country, it has already been attempted upon a Small Scale and with great Success and Profit, and the only difficulty which as yet has presented is that of breaking & Heckling it properly for the chase of the Rope Maker; the Labour and time required for this in the common way by hand, would be too great & dilatory for an essay upon a Plantation with a force equal to the cultivation of two or three hundred Acres. The mill above mentioned, if the Acc I have of it be Just, would obviate the difficulty completely, the introduction of it may be of very great Advantage to the Country, I am sure that you will agree with me that the Experiment is worth making, and grant me your Assistance on the Occasion.

Perhaps it may be necessary to make an Application to the Revd Bishop Etwein, but of this you will judge, to employ some ingenious Moravian Carpenter or Mill-Wright to execute a Model not only on account of Expedition, but also on acc° of price, for I wish it to be as cheaply & speedily done as possible-Permit me to repeat the Model of the Mill is wanted only, So far as it is made use of in the Manufacture of Hemp-And I need not add it should be made to some particular Gauge. & proportionate in all its parts.

Signed-HENRY LAURENS JUN.

I will be much obliged by your favouring me with an Answer as soon as you Conveniently can

ETTWEIN TO BELL, MAY 8, 1790.

MR WILLIAM BELL, Merchant,

Dear Sir,

I received yours of the 21st of Apr. May the 6th here at Lititz communicating to me part of Mr H. Laurens jun2 Letter to you concerning a model from the Hemp Mill at Bethlehem.

Mr Laurens has been misinformed in regard to the Mill at Bethlehem, there is, in fact a Mill which by the power of one large Wheel moved by strong current of Water, can work 6 different manufactories 1.) an oil mill stamping on one side the flax seed and on the other side pressing out the oil and above that 2.) hulling mills, for hulling of Spelt, Buck wheat and 3.) making ship & pearl Barley & oat meal. On the other side of the Water wheel is 4.) a mill pounding bark for the Tanner & 5.) one for softening & cleaning calf skins &c. for shoe leather. On the side of that in a small separate building is 6.) the Hemp mill, where on a bed of solid oak blocks cut in curves the Hemp, already broke is laid and by a large stone about a Tons' weight of this form is by the force of the foresaid Water wheel turned very quick round upon the Hemp on the Bed which must be often turned till it is quite soft; but the Hemp thus prepared is not fit for Ropemakers, but only for (swingling and Heckling) spinning and making strong coarse linnen from it, and must after being so softened be swingled and hatchelt.

Yet I will speak with our Millwright, to make a model of a

mill where on one side of the Water wheel a stamp Mill for pounding bark or Rice and on the other such a Hemp-mill may be, and as soon as it is finished will send it to you to forward it, to Mr Laurens. To serve him in anything will be a great pleasure to Please to mention to him my best respects. Some Weeks ago I wrote to his father and sent it to your care, I hope my Letter was delivered & forwarded. I am

me.

Your very kind & affectionate Letter of the 16th February reached me the 20th March & should have been answered much earlier but some time was required for enquiring into two points which you have made the sine qua non of your accepting the Ninety-Six Land, "exemption from personal service in War and your Affirmation in all cases instead of your Oath." The first is solely within the province of Congress, this State has nothing to do with it, my information is from the GovThe other article is established in our Constitution, affirmation is taken for Oath and your Brethren are not excluded from serving in our Legislature. The Land is still my property and 2000 Acres of the best at the service of your Society upon condition of establishing a Settlement. I hope the Month of October will not pass before some of your friends shall appear to locate and take possession of a spot.

ernor.

I rejoice at your safe return to America & no less at your abiding so long & so lovingly with your Brethren & friends in Europe. God has been pleased to deprive you of one friend by the death of your Wife but has raised you up another in your Daughter for He will never forsake nor leave you disconsolate.12

"While Bishop Ettwein was in Europe attending the General Synod his wife, Joannette Maria, m.n. Kimberle, died at Bethlehem, September 8, 1789. He and his daughter Benigna who accompanied him to Europe did not hear of her death until they landed at New York, December 26, 1789, on their way home.