Letter – Martin Morrison to James Finlay – 12 Nov 1807

Mr James Finlay  Cross Edinburgh				Newcastle 12th November 1807



I am favored with your Letter of the 9th instant Covering Power of Attorney for Mr Beaumont to sign. Observing that the second parcel of Litharge bought by J Hall becomes due on the 28 inst I am disposed to defer coercive measures to compel payment until that period, previous to which would it not be as well again to apply to them for both sums? Mr Hall being known at this Office & usually sending for a Tickett for the delivery of Litharge, the Memorandums which you require do not appear to have been demanded of him but I send you the foregoing remarks by Mr Thomas Crawhall who transacted the business with Messrs Taylor & Sons on their first applying for Litharge. If my appointment of an Agent in Edin[burgh] instead of Colonel Beaumont will answer the purpose I should prefer it, as I am not inclined to trouble him with occurrences of this nature, write to me on this and also the opinion you entertain of our success in the event of an Action at Law with Taylor & Sons. I am etc      



On the sixth November 1806 Mr John Hall accompanied by a Mr Taylor called at this Office. Mr Taylor after being introduced stated that their House would have occasion for considerable quantities of Litharge and that he then wished to purchase 5 Tons; on his being made acquainted with the price, he engaged 18 Casks (about 5 Tons) @ £40 per Ton, a Tickett  was given to him to the Agent at the Wharf for its delivery / in which no reference was made to any other person than Messrs Taylor & Sons / and Mr Taylor signed a purchase note for it accordingly he then said he wished it to be shipped for Queensferry when he was informed that it was not the practice of this Office to ship any Goods sold, and that he must employ some person in N[ew]Castle to transact that business for him in the present instance as well as for any further Quantity he might want, as the Litharge would be delivered about 4 Miles distant from this place, and that we would be at no more trouble nor expense about the Shipment of it, he then handed the Ticket he had received to Mr Hall whom he desired to ship this parcel for him and observed it would be best for them to write to Mr Hall when they might want a further quantity which Mr Hall acquiesced in