| Description | Copy letter to James Gordon of Letterfourie, London, from Daniel Henry Smith, Madeira, thanking for letters, matter of Captain Ashington and delivery of wine to the Earl of Hertford, lessening of import restrictions, Peddie is taking wine to Scotland for them, competition for orders, underwriters refusing to pay out on a broken contract, Kennedy was to blame and is silly if not worse, the agreement with Brenan over his ship has not been adhered to, confusion of customers which house to support, herrings have done well, all their American flour and corn is sold, business with America including certifying the loss of Captain Lovell, owed money by customers in the West, particularly Roderick Williamson of Grenada, holding a stock of old wine ties up their capital, sorry for Captain Gordon’s misfortune, clever and sensible dealings of Mr McKenzie, sharing his business between the houses, wishing Gordon to persuade Watlington to try their wines and leave Murdoch who is growing more ambitious all the time, most of the English ships arrived in Holy Week, departure of Captain [Patrick] Duff, his wife and brother, for India, arrival of supplies and many visitors, but everything shut for the holidays, the Governor is convinced that brandy helps the wine and so their cargo of that has been expedited, asking for pebble spectacles for the Corregidor, and for a case of mathematical instruments for the Governor, who has been attentive to Captain Duff, after eight miscarriages the Governor’s wife has given birth to a boy, thanks to Dr Gordon who was much more competent than the Portuguese physician, a congratulatory letter to the Governor might be in order, rumours of bishop’s departure, accidental burning down of playhouse, they have received an order from Portugal that the young men of the island have to be sent to Lisbon for their education, no parcels of wine have yet been sold, import regulations will allow them to receive back barrels with their own brand on them to be refilled, fulfilling orders for another house that has run out and is not in a good way, he has a long acquaintance with the family, asking for staves and hoops, bacalhao has not sold well even during Lent because of plenty of fresh fish and good herrings, customs activities, bad business in Curacao and St Eustatius, arrival of more herring, 16, 21, 24 April 1776; copy letter to same from same, confirming having shipped wine to the Duke of Gordon by Peddie, Captain Hamilton has arrived and ‘seems to be the only one of the India Captains who understand to deal with our greedy and ambitious folks, he put as is said his Business up to Sale, and proposed of giving it to the lowest Offer’, Murdoch has won the contract by breaking the local price agreement, shortage of cash, 29 April 1776; copy letter from same to same, regarding no news on Murdoch’s dishonourable behaviour, offering discounts on the India business will ruin their trade, general business, some with America, good supply of grain from England, hope to receive some corn, possibility of shipping malmseys, hoping to collect debts from Grenada soon, glad of timely delivery of sugar, sorry they cannot recover the insurance on Lovell, the missing captain, pleased with delivery of wheat, asking for a pair of boots for the Governor, asking for flour, 6 - 7 May 1776 |