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Soho 15th Octr 1782
Mr. Boulton
Dr Sir-
In the first place I must tell you I had the pleasure of seeing Miss Boulton in London on friday last very well; and she had heard from her Brother two days before who was also well. you will say what took me to London; in answer; it was the wake week & there was a Sale at the E. India House of a large quantity of Pearl Shell (say 61 Casks & Chests about Twenty Tons) and as we have long bought from hand to mouth at rather too great a disadvantage I thought it better to buy two or three hundred pounds worth at the first hand, and Gerentet & Samson offerd to go shares for as much more; and pay their quoto of expences to London; accordingly I went, and have bought about £500- worth & have got Bills from Gerentet & Samson to the amt: of £203- towards their share and so soon as it is weighd they will pay their full share & I have got Bills from Salt. Minors &c &c to pay for one Cask of ours and the rest may remain till the 10th Jany. before it need be paid for. it is not very good shell the price is £10..18..0 to £11..0..0 per Cwt. Mr Matthews recommended a Broker and he will do the needful in geting it weigh'd and pay for it &c &c i e I shall send him Bills for that purpose.
I shou'd have wrote you before now respecting my success with your Tennants; but my London journey prevented me Fox paid in Full. Widow Pott paid £37..18..11 instead of £41..6..0 besides some thing she ought to have paid towards the arrears. Thacker paid Twenty five pounds more than enough, but it was every penny in Bills for repairs &c &c. The amt. of his Bills is One hundred Guineas and his years rent is only £80-. Some of the workmens bills were not paid and he made a feint request for me to discharge them but I refus'd and told him what ever more Money he laid out either in repairs or otherwise he must pay himself.
I understand Mrs. Fothergill does not now make any Sale; when she has taken what she likes, Mr. Ravèe will take All the rest at the prices Mr Warren has fix'd on them; I am now fearful £300 will come far short of paying for what she will be desirous of keeping; I have said all I cou'd to persuade her to go to that cheap house at Doverage but Miss Bessy does not like it, nevertheless I think Mrs. F will go, except another house at Uttoxeter shoud be at liberty of which they have some hopes; which is also a very good house & has been let cheap. Mrs. F is still at Handsworth but expect she will remove this week; she has already sent some chairs to our house and beleive she will send some beds tomorrow. We have had plenty of orders till just now but am affraid we shall run short till christmas 'tho we have made half a doz very pretty patts in my opinion and indeed they are much approvd by all that have seen them; they are a compound of Gilt & plated shells & aurora & pearl midles about 40/- dble Gro: & I now think of converting Dawson into a Manager of Solid Gilt and plated Buttons (for it is in vain to attempt any more carrying that branch on in the same channel it has been) & I hope before Xmas to shew you something pretty in that way. Bentley & Forty are stop'd payment about thirteen guineas in Button Co. Debt and about same in Copying Co. Debt, but 'tis well it is no worse; I expect G-n wou'd be glad of his Dollars again; it only happend yesterday & I have heard no particulars. The Wall fruit is now about its prime, Edwd. has sent to about half the people you put down and by the weeks end will have served them all with about 3 doz each and I have added Mrs. Rollason to the List; there were a few nice apples on the trees which wou'd not have kept till your return & therefore I sent them to Mrs. Fothergill. I told White about sending the Ducks to Mrs. Baskerville but have forgot to ask if they are gone. There being very little to do in the Garden query wou'd you have Thomas prepare any ground for planting by the road side if so, where abouts? The housekeeper came to me yesterday for a Character but woud not say where she was going to; I told her a Character in that way was of little use; but if the person she was going to woud give themselves the trouble of either coming or writing to me, I wou'd answer them and do her no harm, I understand she has been speaking slightly of your house since she went and saying that I was her Master and a deal such like nonsense. I suppose you will have heard that Perrins has had a Battle with the famous Jemmy Sargent for One hundred Guineas and that Perrins came of conqueror even without a fall or hurt and t[hat] in 13 rounds he knock'd his antagonist down 13 times; they had it at Cole. . . on our Wake monday, The Sohoites all returnd with blue cockades; I understand Perrins wou'd not engage himself untill he had Mr. Watts assurance that he shoud not loose his place by it.
With respectful Compliments to Mrs. Boulton & Miss Mynd
beleive me Dr. Sir
Yours Sincerely
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