| Description | (Directed to Snow Hill.)
Tottenham, 7 May 1762.
Dear Sir,
Just after I had dispatch’d my letter to you last Monday, I was favoured with yours of 1st instant. On my part you shall never find but the most open and sincere behaviour, and I doubt not through the cource of our connections of giving you many proofs of the strongest ardour to promote a mutual happiness.
I have since received your other kind letter of 2 instant, together with the patterns. I wish you had sent me a card of steel and enamelled links separate from the platina, which I should be glad to receive very speedily, together with a few steel links to send in letters. As to the chape patterns, they unfortunately were quite wet when I unpacked the box, tho’ the water had not touch’d any of the other patterns. This accident has hurt the coulour of them; they will only serve for the engraver. I never intended to have the engravings done with wide tongs. I have not yet received your system of square chapes, which should be glad to have per first that no time may be lost in getting the plates ready, but am certain a size 9 is very necessary.
I shall be glad to receave a steel coat button on ivory, in hopes of getting some orders in the London shops. Pray can’t the price of those buttons be reduc’d from £7 per double gross, by reason I met with Mr. Cantrell (who charges me with his best respects to you) and says he has bought a great many of the steel links of B. Palmer and paid him 53/ per gross; I told him the price of yours was 42/- and he intends seing the pattern. What I mean by mentioning this is that a proportionable difference may be expected in coat buttons at least something under that price, which is the same as Palmer’s. The hurry that Mr. Cantrell was in prevented my mentioning anything then about the platina coat buttons, as he had a friend with him. He seem’d well pleased with our connection. He says he has orders enough, but the present critical situation of Portugall renders him unable to determine on anything. He further told me Taylor, Gimblett, Ward, and Rabone had been with him like so many wolves for orders; the former offer’d him any encouragement he would accept of for the sake of a little business.
I shall wait on Messrs. Casenove this evening, and mention the needful concerning their order. I have been preparing some letters for abroad, and only wait for some patterns of the platina coat buttons (of which I hope you have got a plain bullet finished) and some loose steel links. Having had an occasion to write this week to an acquaintance of mine at Amsterdam, I took the opportunity of enclosing a letter to Messrs. Pierre Le Prince et Locre of Paris, informing them of our connection; and I shall be very tender in my applications abroad of meddling with Mr. Capper’s friends, or any others’; as to Mr. Duncumb’s, they were my own bringing, and with his consent, as he told me, there would be business enough for both of us.
My wife and self, being greatly mended within these few days in point of health, went yesterday morning to town and din’d at Mr. Vere’s the china-man, and return’d here in the evening. I was there tempted to purchase two figures for the best parlour, of the Indian clay sort, which will be sent down soon. On our recovery, my sister was taken ill, and yet keeps her bed, but is getting better. Our little girl holds out pure well. My wife and sister are fully sencible of your kind inquiries and would have been glad to have heard something from you relating Mrs. Boulton, whom they hope is well, together with the rest of your good family. They return your kind compliments, with many thanks for your good wishes in their favour, and at their return will entertain in the best manner with the wondrous things they’ll have seen. I remain, with unfeighned regard, dear sir, your affectionate friend and humble servant,
Jno. Fothergill
PS. I am really concern’d when I reflect on the trouble you have in hand by Walker’s illness , and am att a loss what remedy to propose otherwise than a little more patience. We shall be vastly glad to meet you on our return, which will inform you of in due time, and shall endeavour to procure the Windsor chairs to your direction.
We left behind a baskett of hams, &c., which we forgott to putt a direction to. Will you, dear sir, be so obliging as to enquire at the house if it is yett there, and let it be imediately forwarded by Timmins’ waggon to the Bell in Smithfield, to be left till call’d for.
[Edited transcript.] |