| Description | (Dated at Watling Street.)
Sir,
When you was so obliging as call on me I entirely forgot to mention the rolling mill. I think about this time twelvemonths I was assur'd it wou'd be immediately set to work in rolling your own plated-metal, and then you wou'd be able to do every thing-this from Mr. Hodges. I believe ever since that time I have been more or less amus'd with the same story: if articles were badly manufactur'd, the faults lay in not having a rolling mill; if dear, metal proper for the purpose cou'd not be procur'd-consequently, want of the rolling mill. But, above all, orders "wanted to be expeditiously executed" have most felt the want of this rolling mill, and of those I imagine I cou'd produce to the amount of some hundred pounds in the course of last year, which have realy gone by us upon that account solely. One very recent case within this few weeks, in an order for dishes, &c., for Howard, which might have been done cou'd metal have been had at a short notice; it cou'd not, and I had only a very trifling part of the order, the best of which was sent to Sheffield, being fix'd to time.
I know not where the blame rests. Mr. Hodges has no power to put it forwards. I was in hopes when Mr. Scale got to the manufactory it wou'd have had every attention. I likewise hop'd Mr. Harrison wou'd have endeavour'd to compleat it, and took the liberty to ask him concerning it when in town, but cou'd not find much encouragement till you arrived at Soho.
My anxiety for its being at work can only proceed from that kind of interest which must affect you more materially than myself.
I hope you will be obliging enough to pardon this freedom. I know you will in a moment see it in its proper light, and I doubt not your giving orders accordingly, well knowing that a dispatch in all our orders here is one very material object, and which I can daily see the advantage of. Nothing shou'd be omited which can increase that advantage beyond our competitors, and I assure you I feel more pain at losing an order merely on account of such a conveniency than if I had no orders at all in view.
I am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
Rd. Chippindall
[Edited transcript.]
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