Letter – Henry Fleck to Mary Loraine – 20 May 1776

To Mrs Mary Loraine Hexham				Stella 20th May 1776



Madam

      Understanding your Lead Carriage is now about to forward your Lead here, I write to Inform you that you must first agree with Mr Gibson & Settle Terms with him for your Admission there before I can take it In, because the Company having a wharf entirely for there own Business Mr Eyre will admit of no other lead being laid therein, Without being Accountable to him which neither my Employer's nor I mean to Subject ourselves to, therefore If you agree with Mr Gibson get his Consent, keep me Indemnified, Signifing the same in Writing to me I will endeavour all I can to Oblige you and find a Convenience for your Lead as heretofore, It is also necessary to remind you that in such a case, our Terms of Wharfage etc will be the same without Mitigation as they have hitherto been without relation to your Agreemt with Mr Gibson The taking in your Lead here will be suspended till this point is Settled and I hear from you 

      Otherwise if Mr Gibson & you do Quickly agree, I have another Hill in reserve whereon there is nothing laid, very Commodious (Mr Marshall knows it) there I can deposit your lead by itself by my Masters advice without control, the distance being only a little further, this no Carriage need make no Scruple about If they do, there are abundance,will take it of their hands – Hoping the favr of Your Answer

      I remain Madam your most Humble Servt

      Henry Fleck