| Description | Sir,
I was considerably disappointed yesterday when you handed me your note for the amount of Mr. Boulton’s rent, as I fully expected you had been obtaining a bill. The considerations of the probable loss of the stamp and that Mr. Boulton himself, from the friendly intimacy subsisting between you, might possibly not object to full payment, lifted my immediate refusal of it; but when, on my return to Soho, I found that Mr. Boulton was much worse than when I left him, and too ill to be seen by anyone but his family and his necessary attendant, that from the report sent to London his Son’s return may be immediately expected, and that the transaction must necessarily be laid before him, I considered it best, under these circumstances, to have some previous communication with you on the subject, especially as strict orders have been given that no matter of business whatever be submitted to Mr. Boulton.
I know not whether you are sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Robinson Boulton to know as well as I do his mode of reasoning on questions of this kind. I feel it therefore incumbent on me to say that the only arguments with him will be of this description: Is the payment you have received a proper one for a rent transaction? Or rather, do you not know it to be that kind of payment which I am in the habit of setting my face against in even the common transactions of business?
I trust, Sir, that you will, from these considerations, do me the favor to convert the note into a bill, and thus relieve me from a very disagreeable dilemma. If it be necessary to have a new stamp I will cheerful pay that expence myself.
I should have waited upon you personally if my avocations here would have permitted it, being very respectfully, Sir, your obedient Servant,
Wm. Cheshire
Soho, March 17th, 1807.
PS. The bearer, our Postman, will do the needful. I have returned your note herein.
[Edited transcript.] |