Letter – Michael Blackett to William Leck – 26 Feb 1678

Newcastle feb: 26: 1677/8

Mr Wm Leacke

      When please god you Come to Hamb[urg] you are desired to observe these following Instructions I Confesse you are not bound too Returne hither soe if you Can Light of a freight to Content I pray god send you a good vouadge [voyage], but In Case of a Returne home you know you are to bring mee Thirty tonn of goods, and if by Chance there be more, doe not deny the Shipping thereof I mean the takeing of itt In, you and I will have noe difference when please God wee meet.

      As I have writt Messrs Banckes, I desire to have the nett proceed of my Concerne by you, reshipt mee in Plancke, Iron and Brumzicke mum, of all three part of any one wholly of the above mentioned Commodities as you finde them in Cheapnesse when you Arrive and <inghest> the Instructione hereunder written wch pray lett likewise be Imparted unto Messrs Banckes first Then if foure Inch plancke be to be gott for about five Dollers, or rather then faile six p[er] plancke and soe proportionally Three Inch and two and one half Inch, I Care not if the whole be shipt in that Commodity or as much thereof as Can be procured onelye observe I would not willingly have any Bracke, be sure as little as is possible for though the price thereof be accordingly yet tis not vendable in this place, besides there is plancke that Comes to Hamb[urg] by Land and some by water, the latter sort is for my use Secondly if Right Sweeds Iron bee to be gott about 20 or 21 <…> p[er]  <Shpp> I Care not if the whole be shipt In that Commodyty, of the Sorts to be under mentioned of 2 ¾ to 3 ½ Inch broad flat of Inch or under small square of one ½ to ¾ Inch of thick square the rest fine narrow flatt the quantitity of each I leave to your discretion being all one to mee onely as Little of the Last as is possible.

Thirdly if mum be to be gott for about 5 D<ollers> p[er] Caske qty about 40 Gallans I Care not if the whole be Shipt mee In that Commodity now  I Can give you noe fuller Instructions but must Leave all to Mr Banckes then prudent manidgment wch of the three Commodityes you finde Cheapest, let mee have most of that and w[ha]t you finde dearest Let mee have Least of, I Cannot afford to give any more than is Limited, neither for the Iron nor plancke butt for the mum, though I question not but itt may be bought for five D<ollers> or under, yett if a parcell of good be mett wthall I would not have you shipp itt, if to be gott for six wch is the most I Can give, now if none of these goods bee to be procured as is above mentioned, In gods name take a freight, or Come home In your ballast, for I will rather Choose to sitt Idle as worke Idle desire Mr Banckes to buy mee and send mee p[er] first Convenience 2 or 3 Cocks and as many hens,  wth the Largest <Coops> that he Can  meet wthall I am MB