Letter – John Blackett to John Kelly – 16 Apr 1709

Mr J Kelley                                                                                 Rotterdm  16 April 1709



Sr	

      I Recd yours of the 18 March by wch I perceive the Ships was not Sailed from your place, we have had very uncertain weather, the Wind goes Round the Compass almost Every day, am Sorry the R Seed Comes So much Short of our Expectation, here is a friend of mine who bought 60 last and Remitted money for the Same, but Since it has got to So high a price, the farmers Says they have not half the quantity they thought they had, my friend is now in law wth the farmers but Since you Say you think we have the whole parcel, we must be content, I wish you had brought the seed by land to Newcastle & than Shipt it for Rotterdm, am informed Severall Ships are taken betwixt Blyth & Tinmouth, you do not write if any place was taken in a Ship for the Seed or whether or no you designed it Should come wth the convoy that was ready pray advise in time the name of Ship & Master, & from whence the Seed is Shipt, if it is Shipt from Blyth I Shall not know well how to make Insurance, because the convoy does not come directly from thence, the Master must be sure to take Sailing orders, if he Should chance to be taken & have none, the Insurers will Says he has no convoy, (we have an Example of this at present) am Sorry must advise you the Hull Ships are not arrived, the last letters brings News that was come to the two Men of War not to Stir, because the Admiralty had intelligence of the Duynkerque Squadron being out, if I thought it was So would make Insurance for you, we have letters from all parts of france twice a Week, & no letters makes mention of a fleet being out, but indeed we have advice that a Fleet is fitting out of Duynkerque & is to take 6 or 7 Regiments aboard, if So I cannot think they have any designe upon our Merchant Men, there is a talke as if they would attempt another landing in Schotland other Says in Ireland, per first post Shall Expect positive orders if Insurance must be made or not, I wish could tell how to advise you for the best, but you know in this point it is very difficult, am afraid the Kerseys will come to a bad Market, the country people are now all provided, it will be a long time before I Shall be able to dispose of them, there is never any demand for Woolen Goods in the Summer, in your next aquaint me if here is any goods wch you could dispose off for any profit, as likewise what prohibed goods wch would lay in little room & turne to good profit you have not as yet writ me the price of hides as likewise if they are allowed to be Sent, the best comes from Shields next post will write my Sister Althea

      This day I hear that Tho Wallis is very deep as also when the Fleet was last at Sea & forced back by contrary winds yet he Sprang a leak therefore will write this Evening to amsterdm to have f1100gl Insured upon goods in him I Should not have ventered to have Insured but being you left it to me to Insure or not I do it for the best & hopes it will be to your mind

      Just before I Sent my letter to Amsterdm to make Insurance as I writ on the other Side, I Recd yours of the 28 March & will according to your order get Insurance made as follows

      f1110 upon Goods in Tho Wallis

      490 upon Goods in St Wood

      390 upon Goods in Huntington

we have no good Insurers in this place am very Glad you have freighted a Ship wth Coales & to take our Seed it will come to a Good Market I have writ to my friend to get 1500gl Insured upon Goods in Tho Grainger I hope the Insurers will have no more <premy> though Grainger Sails without convoy from Blyth to Newcastle, I give you maney thanks for Speaking to Mr Shaftoe & wish it was in my power to Serve you