| Description | My dear Madam,
I thank you for your several letters, which I received in due course, but I have been so much engaged with English cavalry, Russian infantry, and trying to settle a treaty of amity with Paul the 1st that I have not had time to think of you; however, the time is now at hand when I must think of you, and request you to think of me and favour me with your assistance and advice.
My East India order will prove a profitable one, provided I can contrive how to prevent it from being an inconvenient one to you and me. I will therefore let you see the whole state of the business, and the following will exactly be my invoice:
Dr. the Honourable E. I. Co. to M. B.
150 ton of coinage at £42 per ton 6300
80 ton of fine copper at £104 per ton 8320
Casks and carriage, about 450
£15, 070 , say fifteen thousand pounds.
on which account I shall have to pay as under:
Dagley and Cheadle Co. draft on me, which I
accepted in your presence and believe due
(but not sure) on March 3d 1020
Do. due April 3d 1020
Rose Copper Company to be drawn this day at
two months, and will [be] due the 17 May 1700
3740
Now for the ways and means.
I propose to come to town the begining of April, or so soon as 100 ton has been deliver'd at Botolph's Wharf, and to prevail upon the East India Company to pay me 5000£ on account, which will remove all difficulties. I think I can provide for that due April 3d, but how to proved for the first payment of 1020 I am at a loss, and wish your advice. The town of Birmingham is so poor and distress'd for want of trade and foreign remittances that we cannot collect our debts, and from the same causes we are dunn'd for every debt we owe, and have paid an unusual sum since Christmass, which makes us poor, and you also; however, pray tell me what you can do and what you cannot.
I have lately received the inclosed from Miss L., which is too fine not to be seen through; however, as I am now circumstanced I thought better to write her that her money shall be layd our in the 3 per cent. Consols, and that she shall not loose anything by my delay but promised to deliver to her as much of that stock as her money will purchase at the price of it on the day of the date of her letter, viz. February 1st, 55 3/8 to 55 5/8, but that for my own convenience I mean to delay the purchase till next month or April; however, I observed that, if she wished to have it directly, it should be sent.
The Emperor, to shew his duty and affection to his mother, has turn'd out her ministers, has chang'd the plan of politicks, has countermanded her orders to me, and has sent for the five Russians back again, and they depart hence tomorrow; but, nevertheless, I have some reason to think he will come back again to my shop when he is crown'd, which I am told is to [be] done on the day his mother is to be buryed, that joy may overcome grief.
My building is at a stand; Wyatt has never answer'd either of my letters, and shall therefore keep it in its present state as a monument of ill usage. However, when the summer approaches I will get it finished against the time you, Mrs. Vere, and Patty come, to whom present my kind love and accept of it yourself, from your affectionate friend,
M. Boulton
[Edited transcript.]
(2 pcs.) |