Letter – John Blackett to Matthew Featherstone – 19 Apr 1709

Messrs Featherstone & Reay                                                           Rotterdm  19 April 1709



here inclosed I Send bills of loading of Goods Shipt onboard the Olive branch Wm Quash Mt & the consent George paine Mt for wch I make you Debter f1913:1 if I was to buy the flax now Should be obliged to give 1 1/2 or 2 Stl [stuivers?] more Rynsbn & Borstle Tow are very Scarce I have had much adoe Send the quantity you ordered, you will find my Rynsbn Tow the best in the whole Fleet, there is not one false packt, the Matts Markt R/H are haerlams Son when you write let me know if they are not better than the rest R/H is yet finer, I hope you will find the paper and Shaving plet So Content, here is no paper at present of 80 or 82 Stl R/H is a Mat haerlam Borstle Tow there was no more to be had, we had a very hard Winter wch hindered the poorer people to Work & now harvest coming on they are other ways imployed wch is the reason Tow is So Scarce, I have Sent per G paine the Basket, Tapes, Thread, & the Napkin wch I brought over wth me, but has taken the length & Bredth of it, by next Ships will Send Mr Whitefield 6 dozin of Span Water, Quash & paine waits onely for a Fair Wind, this day I have drawn a bill on you at 2 usance of 100£ when you have accepted it & under writ where paymt is to be found in London please to Send it me back I have paid for your flax & plet above 2 Months agoe when I am capabe of doing you any manner of Service please to command & you will oblige

£100 at 34 <B?> 10<..>  f1045

for brokeridge             -- 15

                         1044: 5

this is the highest Course Given This day Exchange will yet be lower, the reason is the taback Merchts in London draws for Vast Sums of money every post, the Merchts does not care to buy bills wch must be first Sent into the country for acceptance, they will not take the trouble as likewise be at the charge of postidge of letters therefore has made the bill to my order