| Description | Soho 26 Sepr 1778
Sir
I am affraid my anxiety for having the Button acct: settled may lead you to think me troublesome, which I wou'd wish to avoid, and yet I am Loath to let any opportunity slip. from the discourse we had in the Bow Room the day you went to London, I put down my Sentiments upon paper and gave them to Mr. Fothergill for his perusal, he seemd pleas'd, but from what I cou'd learn, he only thought of my begining from last Whitsuntide & to receive wages for the year before. I can easily admitt that either he or you may have forgot the particulars of what pass'd when I began at Whitsuntid 1777, but I think I can as easily convince you that it was understood by all parties at that time that my salery or income depended upon the proffits of that year whether they were good or bad.
The Button business was managed by CW in 1776 and at Christmas an Inventory was taken & the acct settled which prov'd a bad one; CW continued a month or two after & at his going away I undertook the management of the Button Business, of which Mr. Pearson still kept a distinct acct. the same as when CW had a share in it; and added to it the Goods made by Peck Cotterel & Meadows, I continued the Manager of those Articles for your Acct. intirely till Whitsuntide 1777, prior to which I had made some proposals to you to become a partner at that time in those Branches, which you was quite agreeable to, only, you thought me too much on my own side and wish'd to postpone our coming to any agreemt: till Christmas that we might both have more time to consider of it; but upon telling you how much I was disapointed at not begining then (according to our former conclusion) and urging a trial for a year, you agreed that an Inventory shou'd be taken and a trial made for a year, and you did not doubt but we shou'd settle to our mutual satisfaction at the years end. A fresh Inventory was accordingly taken And a new Acct open'd of Buttons &c in partnership with J Scale, Now if it had been understood that I was to continue my Salery while the trial was made there woud have been no occasion for a fresh Inventory & the year woud have been at at Christmas instead of Whitsuntide, besides I think it wou'd have been un natural to continue my Salery while the trial was made, because it woud have been my intrest to have made a bad year that I might make a better bargain with you at the years end; but I did my best, and understood my self accountable for the good or bad effects of the trade, and it was on this plan that I made my last proposal, but I do not confine myself to them, I wish to be open to reason and dare say we shall not disagree when we come to talk it over. If you shou'd be disengaged this afternoon or evening I shall be glad to wait upon you, or the first convenient opportunity, for while I am thus in Suspense I am like a fish out of water, I have no Spirits at all, & I know I can be ten times more active when we have settled than it is now in my power to be.
I can, and do, excuse for your delay in settling this Acct; I know you have been much harrassd of late and it is but one Branch of your concern; but at same time I beg leave to remind you that it is all mine, & my all is in it, and on this acct: I hope you will excuse my being so very pressing to have it settled.
I am yours Sincerely
Jno: Scale |