Whampoa Reach, ca. 1800. While supercargos attended to their businesses in Canton, the trading ships remained in Whampoa. Courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum.

It being presumed that an Advantageous Adventure may be made to China if undertaken with prudence & managed with Economy, The Subscribers do hereby agree to associate for the purpose of fitting out a proper, tho small, Vessel, to be commanded by Cap' Stewart Dean, on a Voyage to Canton -- The Experience & skill of such a Master must give Confidence to every one concerned, more especially, as both his Property & Person will be hazarded with the Property of each Subscriber.

They went on to agree to invest £1,000 apiece, with the total subscription to be not less than

William Laight subsequently prepared two projections for the promoters. One he based on again employing the sloop Experiment for £2,200. the other on purchasing a "Brig of 150 tuns" for £3,500. The cargoes in each case were to be virtually identical: 30,000 pounds of ginseng purchased at five shillings per pound ( £7,500, 20,000 silver dollars (£8,000), and the balance of the £20,000 in total available capital to be spent on "Madeira Wine & other Goods" (£2,300 and £1,000 respectively). He projected net profits a the completion of the two-year voyage Of £10,529.16 using the Experiment or £9,294.16 if the brig were employed.

Later, Captain Robert Dale prepared a separate projection using only the 12 1/2 shares pledged already.