Letter – Edward Blackett to John Blackett – 23 Dec 1709

Dear Jack                         							Dec 23



      It’s a long time since I had a Letr from you and Must own tis longer since I writ  to you, I had nothing of moment to write to you which was the Occasion, this is only to wish you a happy new Year and I hope to God you may enjoy many, the first Letr you write me give me the names of all those merchts in Newcastle that employs you, As also if any Merchts Employ you that live Elsewhere and their names, the two Bowmens that were Newcastle men are both gone of, the one of them liv’d at London, I perceive a great many Merchts in Newcastle has lost very considerably by them, there is also one Mr Nisbett Mercht in London who was always lookt upon to be a very Rich man, is likewise is gone of, and both the York and Hull Merchts has lost very considerably by him.

      There’s a great Report that the Treaty about a Peace will be set on fast again very shortly, and tis thought by all that if the Danes had not proclaimed war against Sweden we should have had a peace ere this, for the French King is in hopes that by the Rupture both the Dane & King of Prussia will be obliged to recall their troops which are in our Service, both England & Holland use all the means imaginable to reconcile the two Northern Crowns which if it take effect we may be assur’d that a peace will immediately follow  All here give you their kind Remembrance, my Lord Castlecomer is now with me and gives you his service, with my blessing to you I am yr Affect. Father 



Upon Rect of this Letr let me hear from you 



Mr John Blackett Mercht In Rotterdam



Send me by  the very first Ship that Comes to Hull or Newcastle three ounces of the very best <July> flower seed,  we call them here <Pickasees> , as also three ounces of the best Curld Parsely seed.