| Description | Sir,
I am favor'd with yours of the 5th, and tomorrow morning I send by the Exeter fly waggon a tin bottle containing five gallons (but holds six) sperm oil, exceeding good, and I hope will arrive in due time. I cou'd get no larger vessell or I had sent more. I shall wait your orders for a larger vessell, and what quantity you wou'd wish it to hold, which shall be immediately done, and the sooner the better, as oil is now so most unmercifully on the advance there is no knowing where it may stop; I pay 5/6 for this, and fear I must pay more in a few days.
I am much afraid the two semi vases herewith will not at all please you; if not, pray return them, as I have them on that condition. Shou'd I get a pair made to stand as much higher as you propose, it will take up some time; and, as the addition must be by a plint, &c., at foot, cou'd wish to know whether elevated from thence or above the light will best answer your purpose. They had none of these made of a gold colour or I had sent them; they don't make that colour except Keir's, unless bespoke.
Mr. Greenhow has made a calculation for my friend here in the plated-metal line; he has tied us down rather tight, I believe, for price, meaning to allow no more than abut 1/- per pound for plating, rolling, profit, and carriage, and settle quarterly. I know not how you will like this, or the plan he advises you to go upon when you attempt anything in London. He (by all means) says, charge a price for silver according to the market, for copper according to the same, and fix your profits separate; that is, he advises a plan by which all who buy (and in the coach way most particularly) may have a certainty of the quality, if requir'd; not that it shou'd be necessary to hold up to all the world those particulars, but that I may be enabled by certain marks to explain this much when necessary. This he says he will insure to answer, that for want of some dependance on the honor of the platers of metal they have been all along deter'd from dealing much with them, and have been necessarily put to the inconvenience of plating their own metal and sending it to the flatting mills about town, the trouble of which many large consumers, he is assur'd, wou'd gladly get rid of, if to be depended on as pointed out. He will gladly give me every assistance in regard to qualities, &c., as well as introduce me to those who consume the article when ready.
I'm very sorry to hear of your indisposition; I hope this will find you quite well again. Waiting your further commands, I remain, sir, your very humble servant,
Rd. Chippindall
[Note in red ink:] 2 semi vases @ 12/6 each. Oil bottle, 4/6. 6 gallons oil @ 5/6.
PS. I have got one of the hydrostatic lamps up, but only to try and point out what alterations are necessary; none will be got, I fear, for some time.
[Edited transcript.] |