| Description | Letters from Alexander Gordon in Madeira to his brother James Gordon of Letterfourie, first, copy letter regarding bills for goods shipped and goods delivered, necessity for staves, request for more flax and flour, directions for packing it, price of wheat, vessels expected from London, hoping for news from Mr Smith, fall in price of wine, suggestion of a new market for wine, new businessmen setting up in Madeira, hoping Campbell of Jamaica will call on his way, business in Jamaica, asking him to check the quality before buying Irish beef, intending to buy some West Indian beef, asking for butter, suggesting sending it by a Dutch vessel and buying Dutch flour at the same time, asking for barrels of pilchard and herring, and for mould candles from Ireland but not dipped ones as they have too many, 11 November 1761; second, letter about bills, arrival of a Liverpool man with dry goods who has done good business for himself, vessels still expected from London with wheat, much delayed, flour is scarce and selling well, explaining that he does not want to split with Mayne’s house but is looking for other options, French is broke, asking for ‘two cuts of cloth for frocks with Shalloon for lining and other furniture necessary and 6 pl. best black worsted stocking breeches … please to send for me 3 yds superfine cloth such as is used in London for second mourning with black shalloon and buttons, I want this for a Drudge frock for myself’, 21 November 1761; copy of same; letter explaining problems with ship, bills, the sloop Beaver is defending them from a Bordeaux privateer, acknowledging receipt of letters, visit of the Governor of Jamaica, everyone accommodating guests, orders, suggestion by Mr Bailie that a vessel should go continuously between Madeira, St Kitts and Virginia, and wants Gordon to take a third share, Mr Patullo of St Kitts is ‘a very Industrious honest young man;, mislabelling of wine, delighted the wines shipped have turned out well, glad that James approves his dealings with Mr Loughnan, sorry that James has not been able to send wheat, the Betsy Lloyd may have been taken by a privateer, trouble for a Liverpool ship, business in New York, impossibility of getting staves ‘for love or money’, prices of goods, 27 December 1761; copy of the same; letter regarding continued anxiety over late ships, news on stock coming soon, the privateer in the harbour is condemned but another has been seen, the new wines might not be as good as expected, 8 January 1762. With wrapper |