| Description | My Lord,
Haveing repeatedly experienced your Lordship's goodness and attention to the commercial interest of this country, I am thereby embolden'd to represent to you the present state of the Birmingham trade, as well as my own in particular.
I need not point out to your Lordship the effect which the anarchial state of France, and the countries thereunto adjoining, has upon our trade; by depriving us of our payments, and of more than a quarter of our usual orders: to which add the various distresses ariseing from the extraordinary rate of exchange between this and almost all the other commercial countries in Europe, which not only deprives us of our regular payments, but the orders also that are usualy sent with them; and thereby puts it out of the power of the master manufacturer to employ one half of the people he hath usualy done.
The calamities of war I bow to with patience, but these are exagirated by the edicts and prohibitions of our friends and allys.
The particular object of this letter is to mention that, in consequence of a late edict publish'd by the Empress of Russia, I shall probably be plunged into great loss and difficulties, unless some means can be devised to mitigate them.
I receiv'd, my Lord, in the begining of the present year, a few orders for goods of my manufacture from my correspondents at St. Petersburg , which I executed and sent to London to be shiped; but previous to their being put on board, I receiv'd from my said correspondents a printed copy of the Edict and a countermand of all the goods order'd, in consequence thereof. As these goods are only suited to the Russia market, the loss thereon will be very great if not sent: but this is not the worst; for in consequence of the Edict and the extraordinary low course of exchange (viz. 22d. per rouble), my correspondents say they cannot remit for any of the goods I sent to them last year, and part of the year 1791. Thus I am likely to loose the money that is owing to me, the sale of the goods which I have executed to their order, previous to my knowledge of the Edict, and likewise one of the best Europian markets we have.
I am therefore come to the resolution of shipping such of the casks of my goods as now lye in London and accompanying them with an invoice, and my declaration (sign'd before a notary publick) of their being manufactured by me previous to my knowledge of the Edict (sign'd by her Imperial Majesty the 14th April), which will be further confirm'd under the hand and seal of Mr. Baxter , the Russian consul.-I also propose to send one of my clarks (Andrew Collins) on board the same vessell which carries the goods to Petersburg, in order to properly conduct this business and to collect as many of my debts as he can.-As these goods are packed in large casks, or hogsheads, and accompany'd with an invoice of their contents, as well as with my declaration aforemention'd, it must be evident to the officers of the Customs that there is no intention of smuggling them. All that I have to request is, that they will allow me to pay the regular dutys, or that they will allow the same to be return'd back to England in the same ship without landing or unpacking them.
As the young man I shall send (A. Collins) is a stranger at Petersburg, and may stand in need of advice and protection, I should esteem it as a singular favour, if your Lordship would cause him to be furnished with a letter of recommendation to Mr. Whitworth , our Ambasador at that Court, who may probably have it in his power to be of great use to him and to me in this affair. I further hope that through your Lordship's advice and influence at home, such remonstrances may be made at the Court of Petersburg upon the Edict in question, as may produce explainations favourable to the trade of Britain.
Pray, my Lord, excuse this tedious epistle, and pardon the liberty I have taken; being, with the highest respect and every good wish, my Lord, your Lordship's most faithfull, most obliged, and most obedient humble servant,
Mattw. Boulton
of Soho near Birmingham
July 19th, 1793.
The Rt. Honbl. Lord Hawksbury,
London
[Edited transcript.]
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