| Description | Letter to James Gordon of Letterfourie, London, from Daniel Henry Smith, Madeira, regarding correspondence, making space on a ship for wine by carrying earthenware to the West Indies on the outward voyage, waiting for a convoy for safety, insurance for part-owned ships, two new houses set up by men who could not get on with their employers, this is unsettling, no point in trying to import tea as it will not be allowed, activities of the customs, trying to get good malmsey, asking for a ten gallon measure to check their barrels, disagreement with Captain Johnston over wine, and his theory that there are price-fixers in the island, apologising for laying out too much money, pleased with wine sent to Mr Bond, ‘seldom vessels appear for Liverpool and when do are commonly Truckers, by whom the wine runs more danger of being adulterated than by the man we sent it’, hoping things will settle in America, shipping has been quiet, the loss of Captain Lovell of Philadelphia has cut off a good supply of staves, Captain Duff is waiting for Captain Webb’s arrival, one of their retired employees has died in poor circumstances, 17 February 1776. With wrapper |