Letter – John Blackett to Ralph Hall – 21 May 1709

Mr R Hall                                                                     Rotterdm  21 May 1709



Sr	I Recd your letter the 12 April & would have answered it long agoe, but I have been very ill for these 3 Weeks & not able to write one line, am now God be thanked much better, the Fleet from Harwich arrived Safe in this port last Saturday, as likewise Robt Bulman and the rest of the Newcastle Ships, will Ship the flax & Tow aboard of him as you ordered, and take care it is of a Good Colour & Good Harte, I have done my Endeavoir to Sell your bottles at their Arrivall but could not get them disposed off, when I Spoke to any one to buy them, they Said great quantities was Shipt & would rather Stay till the Fleet arrived, Mr Henry Wolfe dyed about 3 Months ago, there was no money found by him, but one Guiney & 16 Duch Schellings, he kept no Books there was Severall Loose papers wch are arrested by one of the Creditors, am informed he owed for Flax, Paper, & other things wch was Sent to Newcastle (as people thinks) betwixt 4 & f5000gl I hope you are no Looser by him, if you are please to let me know, & will do my best to find out to whom he Sent Flax too at Newcastle that you may get your money of them, it is thought he must have money of Severall at Newcastle, but it will be very difficult to find out who they are, because nothing was found but a few papers, Some Say one book was found, but none can make anything of it, if am Capable of doing you any Service in this or any other thing please to command & you will oblige, I