| Description | ‘We have this morning forwarded by Weeks’s Boat Paddington the Pipe of Port and twelve dozen old bottles Wine, the former packed in twelve Hampers containing Fifty two Bottles each – the latter in two Cases of 65 Bottles each & one small hamper of 26 bottles. The Corks of the Pipe of Port are sealed, and the Hampers all wicker’d down. We have no doubt from the care which has been taken in the packing and forwarding this order the whole will arrive perfectly safe… the old bottled Wine shou’d be unpack’d carefully and laid the chalk side uppermost as it now lies in the package, a dozen or two might be set upright as it is to be used immediately.
We have seen the whole load safe on Board and the Boat will leave the Wharf this evening. The Piccadilly Family are all well – Mr. Dumergue dined with us yesterday…
[ps 12 o’clock] We open this letter to acknowledge one from you this inst. Dated the 22nd – by the twopenny post, wishing the Wine to remain till March; but as the Weather is now so favourable and a report of another duty on all Wines, we hope it will not make any difference the Wine having been sent before we received the counter order. There must surely have been some delay in putting your letter into the post (for your government).’ |