Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

60
THE BRITISH LINEN COMPANY
which must be observed against next year’. We hope you’ll advert to the above
directions.
To Robert Whyte, Kirkcaldy
19 March 1754
The repeated complaints against our Scots checks and other coloured linen
goods for their mean colour both as to blue and white and complaints being
sometimes made that even what colour they have does not stand the washing,
occasions our giving you the trouble to enquire what has become of the project
for erecting a dyehouse and a proper bleachfield for the yam of which these
goods are made. It appears to us that without something of this kind be speedily
done, our check trade will gready fall off and centre entirely in the hands of
the Manchester dealers. Be so good as to give us your sentiments on the matter
and to let us know if the Company can be any way useful to you either by
taking a share with you in the undertaking or by aiding you in such other way
as you shall require. If you had occasion to be this side of the water, a
conversation about this matter would be of more use than a literary correspon¬
dence.
To William Tod, London
2 April 1754
As you desired, there is herewith sent an invoice of the 120 pieces hollands in
two cases, marked A.B. per Captain Main value at the selling prices, and
consigned to Mr Archibald McLane, amounting now to £777 10/2, but we
still keep the the former valuation of £678 7/4 at his debit in our books, as it
really appears to me a very wrong method of charging goods when consigned
at the highest prices one can expect to bring for them, seeing by that method,
one buoys themselves up with high fictitious profits before they are ever made
good, or the charges deducted for selling them.
Mr Doig and I, after considering your letter from Ireland with the prices of
yams, and after comparing them with what are the present prices of sale yams
at Falkirk and Linlithgow do not believe it would answer the end to import
any yams from Ireland. The prices at Dundee are presently higher in propor¬
tion, but that will no doubt be regulated by the other markets. I have bought
from Mr Shairp about £50 value of Jamaica cotton, the price of which I have
agreed shall be fixed at what the same should give at London; the bargain was
made last week, so you will have to enquire and write me. Our Osnabrigg
warehouse now being empty, I have brought in the cotton spinning mistress
and her scholars into it and am setting them to work with the cotton bought
from Mr Shairp.