| Description | Letter to James Gordon of Letterfourie from his brother Alexander, Madeira, regarding business with Strauss & Schmidt, reminding him to order ironwork so that they do not have to borrow it, telling him to make sure the flour he sends out is not short, staves from London are expensive and unsatisfactory so he thinks they should have pipes made up with ten iron hoops each, and send them out filled with flax or wheat, in such a way that the wheat will not be spoiled, advising him to increase the number of hoops in bundles but to tie them securely so that they are less likely to be counted on arrival, general increase in prices, the best routes for flax, shortage of blue cloth, sympathising with him over the bills he has to pay, reassuring him of the state of the business, 29 February 1764 |