| Description | (Press-copy of an original in William Cheshire’s hand, signed by Boulton.)
Soho, January 27, 1806.
Dear Sir,
On the 17th instant, I wrote to Messrs. Smith, Jennins, & Smiths ordering a pipe of port wine; at the same time I ordered twelve dozen of good old port for present use, meaning that the latter should be such wine as would not require to be kept twelve or more months ere fit for use. I desired it might be sent by canal, but did not specify any particular time for putting it on board, considering that the wine merchant must know better than myself what weather wou’d be most suitable for its conveyance. However, a few days afterwards, at the suggestion of my son, I wrote again, viz. on the 22d instant (which letter was delay’d for box till the 23d), requesting that Messrs. Smith & Co. would delay sending the wine till the month of March, fearing that if sent sooner it wou’d be liable to be chilled and spoiled. In reply received yesterday, I find it is already put on board one of Weeks’s slow boats, and now the frost and snow have set in there is some danger of the canals being locked up, in which case the wine will be entirely spoil’d, and being sent by Weeks’s slow boats there is double the risk that there wou’d have been by Pickford’s fly boats, the former being about six days on their passage and the latter only about half that time.
Under these unfortunate circumstances I wish you would consult with Messrs. Smith, Jennins, & Smiths what had best be done, for if the frost shou’d lock up the canal the wine will certainly be spoil’d, unless it be taken out of the boat and either return’d to the cellar or transferred to a fly waggon—I mention this latter expedient only in case of severe frost, for it would doubtless be better to be at that expence rather than have the wine spoil’d.
I send you herewith the letter alluded to from Messrs. Smith & Co., and copies of mine to them that you may see what has passed upon the subject.
I remain, dear sir, your faithful and obedient servant,
Mattw. Boulton
PS. Please return the letter and copies when done with. |