| Description | Soho, December 5th, 1798.
Matthew Boulton, Esqr.
Respected Sir,
The constant daily, and even hourly, hope and expectation of your return to Soho have for some time past put a bar to all communication with you in London from this Office; but, having received by this day’s post a letter from Mr. Budge, the contents of which it seems proper that you should have a double chance of seeing soon, I herein inclose you a copy thereof.
Permit me to take this Opportunity of informing you, that we have received Advice from Bristol, and Plymouth, of the Loss of the Rose, Captain Cooper, a Vessel on board of which Messrs. Doughty & Co. had shipp’d 23 Casks of Coin, for sundry Correspondents at Plymouth; the most recent Letters state, that some of the Stranded Coin will be sav’d from the Wreck; but as the Accounts disagree in the Quantum, I cannot pretend to give a precise Idea what the Amount will be: one Letter expressly says 13 whole Casks, and about a Cask and a half of loose Pieces, dug out of the Sand. This letter is from Messrs. Nicholls & Johnson, for whom Six Casks of this unfortunate Shipment were made, and they mention’d that one of their House was just return’d from Bigbury Bay, where the Accident happen’d; so that I should think their Report is entitled to some Credit.
On the first Account of this Loss, on Sunday last, we wrote to Mr. Francis Fox of Plymouth, desiring him to take the proper Steps, either through the Owners (if substantial Men, and likely to act for the benefit of the Shippers) or their Agents, to prevent Plunderage and secure the Property; as well as to pay all fair and legal Demands for Salvage, &ca.; but if this could not properly be done thro’ the said Owners, or their Agents, to have the Business put into such Hands as wou’d be most likely to consult your interest. I hope there will be no difficulty in substantiating your Claim upon Government for all Losses of Coin sustained in Sea Risques.
I am sorry to inform you that this Office has been depriv’d of the Services of Mr. Brown for 8 or 9 Days past, in Consequence of a Tumour on the back of his Neck; he has the Assistance of Mr. Barr and the Disorder, tho’ sufficiently Painful and troublesome to induce Confinement, cannot, I presume, be attended with any Danger. You may rest assured of my best Exertions during Mr. Brown’s absence. Hoping shortly to have the Pleasure of seeing you in good Health and Spirits,
I remain, most respectfully, Sir, your oblig’d humble Servant,
Wm. Cheshire
Since the above, a Letter is received from Mr. Francis Fox informing that the Owner of the Rose is on the spot, that he is a very attentive and reputable Man, that he is doing every thing in his power to secure the property, and that the owners thereof may confide in him with perfect safety. I am sorry to add that Mr. Fox, whose Letter is dated two days after that of Messrs. Nicholls & Johnson, is apprehensive that a small proportion only of the Coin will be saved. |