Letter – John Blackett to Henry Witton – 16 Apr 1709

Mr H Witton                                                                                 Rotterdm  the 16 April 1709



Sr	I am favoured wth yours of the 16 March by wch perceive you have bought 14 last Rape Seed wch am mighty glad to hear the price you have here under & will be I believe Some what higher, but if you can get 23£ would advise you to Sell it all you have then a certain profit, there is Generally 10 perC lost by the measure, unless you buy at Stockton & there the measure is as large as here, am Sorry must advise you the Hull Ships are not yet arrived, the last letters brought News that the [struck out: ‘Duynkerque Squadron’] two Convoys was Stopt because the Admiralty had Intelligence of the Duynkerque Squadron being out, we have twice a Week letters from all parts of france & none makes mention of any Fleet being out , but indeed we have advice from Brest & Duynkerque that Severall Men of War are fitting out & are to take 6 or 7 Regiments aboard, if So I cannot think they have any designe upon our Mercht Men, there is a talke as if they would attempt another landing in Schotland, others Says Ireland, Mr Kelley has left it to me whether to Insure or not, I did not designe to have made any Insurance, but hearing by the last letters from Hull that Tho Wallis was very deep as likewise when the Ships was last at Sea & forced back by contrary Winds that he Sprang a leak, therefore has this day Insured for his accompt f1100gl upon Goods aboard Tho Wallis.  this Evening I Recd yours of the 30 March I cannot advise you to Send any leather here in the Summer time, but against next Winter if you please will be concerned 1/3 or ½ on a parcel wth you, I do not know any thing that a penny may be got by Since corne is So very dear in England if we have a good harvest you will find it fall in price as fast as it has now risen, you will Stand very well wth your R Seed I hope your 10 last will Save the Fleet wch is now at Hull, this Seed has Suffered much more by the frost than any other Sort therefore will keep up in price, Mr Kelley writes me that the farmer of whom he bought our Seed Says there is will be but 8 or 9 last, we have every post complaints of that here is a friend of mine who bought 60 last R Seed Some months ago & Remitted money at the Same time, now Seed being got up to So high a price the farmers Says they have but 16 lasts wch is a very great loss, here is another Mercht Served the same trick but he is gone to Law wth them

writ him the price of corne as I have Mr Kelley on the other side

Uper leather  7 & 7 1/4

Sole       ‘ ‘   7 1/2  8 1/4

Calf Skins12 & 13Stl

dt not curried but tanned  6 1/2 & 7 1/2

Exchange  35 <B?>