| Description | (Directed to 6 Green Lettice Lane.)
Sir,
By enquiry at your warehouse, when I sent for the lathe and press that you were so obliging as to order there, I have heard of your departure for London; I hope you had an agreeable journey and that your health has not suffer'd by the change of situation, or motion of travelling.
Under the idea that you may probably favor me with a letter during your stay in town, either to inclose invoice of the article you had determin'd to procure there for me, or to apprize me of its being sent off, I deem it necessary to request, that, you will have the goodness to write in a stile of obscurity that may prevent any pernicious discovery shou'd the letter fall into improper hands: my reason for this precaution is, I have frequently received letters by mistake for a man in Whittall Street who is my name-sake, in both Christian and sirname; tho' I never yet knew an instance of the reverse of this case, 'tis what may possibly happen, and is therefore a contingency that it seems to me quite proper to guard against: if the misnomer we agreed upon be adher'd to, it will be a sufficient blind; or if your letter to me be address'd to the care of Cheshire & Griffin, who have a box at the office, there can be no danger of a miscarriage.
I am sorry to acquaint you that I see no very immediate prospect of entering upon Mr. Barrs' premises; the workmen go on but slowly; or rather I shou'd say Mr. Elvins accommodates us with too weak a force; it is my constant effort to stimulate each party to proceed with vigour and if the whole cannot be compleated so soon as is desireable, the part you recommend to have first finished shall not be neglected.
I remain, with grateful respect, sir, your obedient servant,
Wm. Cheshire
[Edited transcript.] |