Letter – Christopher Blackett to Isaac Wilkinson – 11 Sep 1805

Isaac Wilkinson Esq   Chesterfield					Newcastle 11th Sept. 1805

			

Sir

      I am favoured with your letter of the 6 Inst enclosing three Bills in payment of the 100 P[iece]s Slag Lead sent you & of the Parcel of Shot sent [to] W Hardy, the whole amounting to £255 – 7 – after the discount on each is deducted, you’ll please to accept my best thanks for the trouble you have had respecting the latter.

	I have reason to believe that the London Houses are using their utmost efforts to reduce the Price of Lead, but I hope they may be resisted with effect, as the Stocks throughout England are not large. I confess I think prices were run up too rapidly last spring, the consequence of which has been that the Exportation of Lead in all Shapes has been materially checked, and I know that in Holland they have been supplied chiefly of late from Germany, and in France from Spain; yet when once the Market turns, it may be difficult to say where it will stop. I therefore consider it to be for the interest of the trade to endeavour to keep prices, as near as they can to those of the Lead company’s last Sale which were £30 & £39; and I do not intend to sell for less, unless directed by my Employer to do so, which I do not think will be the Case. Should any material change take place in the Trade here I will not fail to advise you.

						I am etc CB