Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

CRISIS AND RECOVERY, 1753-1763
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credit of the dealers in bills of exchange, who constantly (it is said) run upon
the banks for specie, send it to London at a small charge, and draw for the same
Cash again at 3 to 3 V2 per cent exchange. And in this way the demands are at
the banks to the amount of 18,000 per week. How the proposed remedy
will work no one knows. In the meantime credit, trade etc are much hurt in
this country.
To Tod & Anderson, London
18 March 1762
I have communicated your letter of the 13th respecting the manufactures to
Mr Neilson (now here). He is of opinion the sundry fabrics of coane linens
could with advantage be promoted at Dundee, but that the chief obstacle is
their yams are made generally from ill-heckled and stapled flax and conse¬
quently the yams made very unevenly. To remedy this I have proposed
furnishing some of the principal weavers there annually for 3 yean with 20 or
30,000 spindles of our north country yams at about 2d to 3d per spl less than
theirs now cost them, of which he approves and has accordingly transmitted
my proposal to Dundee to some of the most considerable weavers there. If this
takes place he has only to keep the weavers strictly to the weave neatly and
close and to buy such goods only as are well done. With respect to the 1/%
cheques of which you say the colours are good but refused for being thin, I
have to remark that some two or three months ago I had an inspection of them
made by some folks from Manchester who said that the weaving was rather
preferable to theirs but that the goods before being offered to sale should be
dressed up as theirs are vizt first callendered with the horse callender and then
put through a hot cylinder.
To George Clifford and Sons, Amsterdam
29 April 1762
You will please to receive two letters the one for the house of Thomas
Zuckerbecker Widow & Sons of Riga to whom I have given orders for the
providing a cargo of flax and have given them leave to value on you for the
amount which may be as the prices shall rule and the ship contain from _£180()
to £2000 and to which last amount you will please to honour their bills and
for your reimbursement draw as formerly upon Messrs Tod & Anderson of
London. The which credit to Messrs Zuckerbecker widow and sons you will
please confirm along with our said inclosed letters. The other letter now
enclosed and which you will please to forward is for Madam, the widow of
David Barclay of Koningsberg. This lady has often sollicited the Company for
employment, the same as in her husband’s time, says she has a large family, and
by her servants and connections in that place can render the same service as