| Description | Copy letters to James Gordon of Letterfourie, London, from Daniel Henry Smith, Alexander Gordon & Co., Madeira, hoping for a timely delivery of pilchards before the end of Lent, accommodation of Mr Gillon from South Carolina who was expected to bring good business, surprised by complaints over wine, challenges of doing business and allowing favours in difficult times, low supply of wines, sure that their interest is not suffering by Alexander Gordon’s long stay in Scotland, Long is not to be trusted and his pork, butter and beef are bad, his practice is sharp, news that St George’s in Grenada has been destroyed by fire, hoping to sell printed linen, asking for staves and candles, problem with low prices for corn, local deaths and demotions, list of shipping since last letter, 12 March 1772; local news, including visitors staying with them, trying a new route to London via Cadiz, glad to hear that Alexander Gordon is much better, with postscript from [James] Duff regarding last minute shipping arrangements, 1 April 1772; shipping arrangements, pilchards have sold well but herring not so well, as they were badly packed, scarcity of provisions in Europe, unfair trading of Ahmuty, distribution of wine on the island, the prices are high but the new crop is said to be better, possibility of providing part of a large order for New York, requesting new bill of lading book of a different design, ‘We wish … you would order a pipe or two of Spanish Brandy for a trial, the can disguise it as Oil Casks’, order for cloth, list of prices of wines, 15 April 1772 |