| Description | Letters from Alexander Gordon in Madeira to his brother James Gordon of Letterfourie, firstly copy of letter written in haste to catch a Dutch vessel, shipping movements, wine sent by the Hawke and James to advise the customers, convoy under the Intrepid man of war sailing for Virginia then on to Halifax, financial arrangements, local prices, asking for flax, the vintage looks plentiful and good, asking for good locks as a gang of thieves is picking and relocking current ones, ‘our House Sellar door wants to be secured, Toby I’m afraid has found means to Play tricks with it for he gets every now and then drunk, and I’m afraid the distemper may have taken such a root that its incurable, This I impute to the black wench whom I’m determined to get rid of at all events as soon as possible’, asking for iron hoops, 11 October 1761; secondly letter enclosing list of shipping, various traders changing allegiances, advertising new vintage at good prices, asking for wheat, flour and flax, all to be packed well in pipes or butts with iron hoops, pleased that all their friends are happy with their wine, anxious about India ships coming to Madeira, ‘As to what you mention of a Party formed there to supplant our trade, and bring the Canary Wine into Wogue, there is but too great a reason to dread its consequences’, Tenerife wine was brought in by the Brittos but seized and the ship burned, accounts, problems with London gaugers and with new barrels, roove boxes of citron sent to various people, asking him to establish a correspondence with a good house in Amsterdam, with list of bills, 27 October 1761, with wrapper |