| Description | "Propositions respecting the arrangement with Glynn and himself."
London, 19 September 1808.
Sir,
I now endeavor to fulfill my promise of addressing you on the subject of the very handsome and unexpected proposal you have done me the honor to make, of succeeding to the situation at Soho which for so many years has been filled by Mr. Hodges.
The full and mutual confidence which has ever subsisted between my brother and self naturally directed me to consult him on this occasion, and aided by his remarks, which so nearly coincided with my own and which have contributed to remove the family objections I stated to you, I do not now hesitate in accepting the situation which you have had the goodness to offer.
On reviewing the various intended arrangements here, as well as at Soho, there is one matter on which I beg leave to remark, relative to the terms necessary to be made with Mr. Glynn; I particularly mean as to what you proposed, viz. for the difference between his commission and mine to be carried to the credit of the general concern; and which, when you have minutely consider'd, I hope you will agree that those profits shou'd rather, for a certain number of years, be permitted to come to my own seperate credit only; for instance, shou'd an agreement be made with Mr. G. as agent for seven years, and for him to receive the usual commission from the trade, out of that amount I shou'd propose for him to pay to me annually (suppose) £300 per annum for the first two years, £200 for the next three years, and £100 for the last two years, or in any other proportion thought more eligible.
Perhaps you may smile at the modesty of this request, but if you will have the goodness to compare the present period with the two first years (1783 and 1784) of my conducting your father's business here, you will find that for the whole of my commissions on the sales of these two years together I received but £5. 7. 11; for 1785 I received 18. 10. 8; and so proportionally advancing until 1797, at which period of fourteen years the commissions had never in any one year amounted to £400, a sum far below my expenditure, very hardly earned, and thro' difficulties which with many wou'd have been given up as insurmoutable. I nevertheless toil'd thro' them and, thank God, have not only succeeded in bringing the London business to what it now is, but by still further exertions and strong support I fear not of still more importantly encreasing the general concern.
On taking this candidly into your consideration, I hope my request will not appear unreasonable, and I shall be happy to receive your sentiments thereon, as well as any directions you see necessary to be immediately carried into effect by, sir,
Your much obliged and very obedient servant,
R. Chippindall
PS. I find the new books are most of them promised for me to send down about Saturday next.
[Edited transcript.] |