Letter – Ralph Grey – 13 Nov 1674

      Newcastle November the 13th (74)

Sir

Yours of the 2 currant came to safe hand wherein I perceiv you recd the inclosed account of Mr Tho. Sherwoods in which acct you take exceptions against the porters of 15s & 2d which is realy due after weight for portinge to the boat, for the weighing the weight M[aste]r pay besides other dutyes which is not placed to the marchants account. the acct stands thus



                            Cwt qt lb                  £  s d

To lead ore dew as per acct <12> 0 20 at 6<.> pr tts  67 17 05

To caske qt 46 at 1s 2d per caske                     02 13 04

To nails as per note                                  00 05 06

To porter dues as per note                            00 15 02

To crainidge as per note I paid since last acct       00 07 08

To whiry down with their drinks                       00 18 00

To postige for letters with factorige                 00 15 00

                                   Their is due       73 12 01  

                   Deducting pd per Mr Wigfalls       30 00 00

                                                      43 12 01



Which sd some of 43£:12s I have given Mr Tho. Sherwood a bill of exchange of you who to my knowledge if would have forfeited his promise to me might have had 7£10s per fother & I know Sir Wm Bleckit had more of Mr Wm. Peacock of Amsterdam then 7£ 15s p tts. Mr Sherwood fals of from the bargain for what lead I was to have this year, but there is but <15 tts> & 20lb lead by the reason of the weather being very bad, that ore could not be led in he now stands for 8£ per tts & Mr Swinburn & Mrs Bacon hath sold at same rate to Mr Wm Peacocke lead id hear bought upp for Amsterdam at 13£ per fothe, they <bring> their return here for rye which they sell for 4s9d & 5s per bushel they pay 2s6d per last custome last year it was under the rate but the comisioners gave order to be favourable to the merchants, the <parts> for about 40 myles round about us have had a very bad harvest  and most corn is not serviceable I am of that opinion it will hardly fall this year. Wheat 7s or 7s6d per bushel rye from 4s6d to 5s per bushel. I thank you for your writing to your friend Mr Willit to be informed of the price at Rone if good to be done shall venter what p[ar]t you please coles is risen hear to 12s per chal: all shipps are free to cary their cole to Amsterdam & Rotterdam tho being risen from 11s <p. hood> to 25s but is thought now at 30 they write of 30 sayle of Holland[er]s that are coming wth 2 convoys to lode coles if they com they must stay till they be wrought & led their 100 sayl gone for Schotland must lye this winter. I cant prevail wth any of our m[aste]rs to goe for London the price being lower than in Holland or elsewhere.

Ra: Grey