| Description | "Neale & Co.’s affairs. Shrievalty. Extract of a letter from P. Ewart on the state of the cotton trade."
London 11 Feby. 1826
My dear Sir
I have just received a letter from Mr. Creighton stating that you wish something to be done in London in the affair of Neale & Co.; but if the object is to obtain Security, I do not see what steps can be adopted here, and at any rate nothing can be done before Monday, on which day I shall be glad to receive explanations from You. The first point appears to me to be to fix the amount of the Charge to be made to them, of which only a general Este. had been given. The Foundry charge had not reached Soho when I left, and John Bennett should be again sent to about it. The first application for it was made by Mr Creighton about 3 Weeks ago and he has since been more than once reminded of it through his brother William. I have desired Mosley to be making what enquiries he can about Neale's responsibility.
I do not know Yet what the Issue of my application about the Shrievalty will be. It is admitted on all hands that I should have been readily let off had I applied before the Pricking . That Operation is considered conclusive with respect to an English County, but it is understood, the Chancellor has the Power of alteration in a Welch County. Mr Buller, the Clerk of the Privy Council, has, at Mr Peels desire, taken up the matter for me, and is to see the Judges, to know if they will admit of my serving by Deputy, in case I feel myself obliged to require it. If they refuse, then my application is to be to the Lord Chancellor to be struck off the list.
Mr. G. H. Freeling has had a narrow escape, but seems now recovering, though not well enough to apply to business. He talks about more spare Boilers being wanted and asks if we object to having then done by Laird, if he will, and we cannot undertake them as to time. I have said generally, that I did not think we should object, provided that pitiful Scoundrel Fawcett was not connected with him. Of that personage he entertains the like opinion as ourselves, and thinks Laird independent of him.
The Boilers wanted, are one for the Arrow 40 Horse power, and another spare one for Holyhead for the 80's.
The following is an extract from a letter I have just received here from Mr. Ewart.
"The effect of the extravagant high price of cotton wool last spring was to produce a "compleat stagnation in the demand for Goods & Yarns. Foreseeing that a scarcity of money "would be the consequence of this, I determined to lay out no more on our new Building & "Machinery than I could possibly help, and it is very well I did so, for the Scarcity has become "greater than any one could foresee how long it may continue. You were so good as to say, I "might have some time with my Engine. I shall be greatly obliged to you for that, and if you "will give me a few weeks notice before you want it, I will endeavour punctually to meet it."
He concludes his letter with saying that he has just lost one of his Boys; I suppose the youngest, that he had been long ill and in much suffering, and that Mrs. Ewart & himself are in much affliction. Mr Lee has had partial returns of his complaint, and is much shaken and reduced in strength, but is now able to visit Salford occasionally. He desires the above may be communicated to his friends. I am
My dear Sir
Yours truly
J Watt
I have not seen Barker. The Morning Chronicle of today says that Parliament are to be dissolved at Easter? |