Letter – John Lindsay to James Standsfield – 24 Nov 1677

      Londo Novembr 24th 1677

Sr James Standsfield

Our last was of the 30th past. Since your lre of 9th instant. And in respect to wt I menconed in my last concerneing Mr Vermuydens opinion I am willing to be over ruld by you As wt you think best in your owne opinion for carrying on the worke as to your not sending a steward from hence in regard you are so well satisfyed wth him already imployed. But whereas you mencon yourself surprized at my owneing Mr Vermuyden [as] partner And that you say I long since agreed to leave him out It hath occasioned me to peruse all my Letters written to you whereby I clearly pceive that all the [intimation] that ever I had that Mr Vermuyden did not intend to continue his [interest] was originally either from your self grounded from his failure of coming into Scotland from the information given you by Mr Blacket who desyred a greater share wch made you as your owne expressions termes it, apt to conclude the <....> wth Mr Blackett .  Its true that in mine of the 1st July 76 in answer to yours of the 8 June on the same subject my Br in my name writt that if Mr Vermuyden did relinquish his interest according as you did then advise I was willing you should oblige your friend (yr writt above) wth a 4th part, But from that time to this it never appeared to me that Mr Vermuyden did ever really relinquish And why I should think it for our interest during the time of our certaine charge & uncertaine profitt is wt I cannot understand. Besydes we are obligd in gratitude as he was the discoverer to us And I must not forget that wee were under a joynt agreemt with him also here, so may not offer him any injury seeing I finde that he still doth insist upon a right to his part And is willing to be accompless in respect of the charges. To conclude him  therefore upon surmise or that he thought fitt at once for Reesons best known  to himself to disowne his being concernd when at Newcastle will not make us rightly reasond to refuse him, All which I must  leave to your consideracon Onely shall add that because by yours I finde you so much prejudiced agst his person & opinion his being interested shall not occasion any further dissatisfacon for that As to the whole halfe of the concerne you shall have to deal wth no body but my selfe. But for me to disoblige Mr Vermuyden is wt I neither can nor will doe though I should be forsed to Assigne him my fourth interest in that concerne. Soe desyre I may have your answer & compliance herein.

Your Assured friend & servt, Jno Lindsay   



Sr James Standsfield Mercht In Edinb