Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

136
THE BRITISH LINEN COMPANY
necessary for these fine clear lawns being taken up without ruining the threads
will be of great advantage for Silesias and Garlix, and especially also as there is
just now some Cambrics to be taken up.
I would not wish your friends at Glasgow to hire other people’s servants or
inveigle anyone away by giving higher wages, or without their master’s
knowledge. But I think it is possible to get one or two servants either men or
women to come for the season or for a few days either upon day’s wages or a
piece of money as shall be agreed upon, and such folks too as may either be
unengaged now or have leave for eight to ten days for that purpose from their
master. Show this to Mr Armstrong, and let your letter be wrote and sent in
here on Monday before six at night to go by the post then. And I dare say your
friend will be careful to get the people wanted upon as reasonable terms as
possible. But in such a case as this I do not think he should stand for a triffle of
money providing he has a good character of the folks wanted. If your friend
cannot get two, let him hire one person. I shall allow your friend a considera¬
tion.
To David Neilson, Dundee
23 August 1760
This chiefly serves to advise that Mr Tod has received your goods (I mean the
Osnabriggs) by last fleet. He thinks them equally good with others but seems
afraid of going deep in purchasing even at these prices till the market are proved
and therefore says you should be just going on without launching deep until
he writes. This I thought proper to write tho’ I doubt not his letter to yourself
by this post may say as much. Be so good as to forward these Osnaburgs for
this house per first occasion to Leith together with the linens for bleaching. I
yesterday talked with some of the Commissioners of the Customs as to what
you wrote about orders given for not unloading more than one ship at Dundee
at once. And they say no such orders came from the board. On the contrary
the Tide Surveyor at Ferry Port on Craig has orders to remove to Dundee and
to serve the office of land surveyor or land waiter as occasion may require and
the Collector direct.
To Thomas Junor, Kirkcaldy
16 September 1760
I have received yours of this date with invoice of 6 pieces checks which are
received per Kemmel and shall be entered to your credit. I cannot afford to
allow you to pay such high prices for checks and must therefore want [i.e. do
without] them as they will bring no profit to the Company. You need not
therefore buy any more till further orders unless they can be had as usual @ 8d
per yd for the broad and 7d for the narrow. Or at most and one shilling more