Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

DEBT AND DEVOLUTION, 1763-1764
169
To Tod & Anderson, London
31 March 1763
Yams prepared in the new or German method makes much better cloth than
those done in the old way of milling the yams. The brightness of the colours
I apprehend will be of no difficulty. If Mr Neilson can find a proper spot at
Dundee, he is to get a man taught this art to promote it at Dundee. Mr Neilson
sent to you lately some %ths wide Osnabriggs which it’s possible may be such
as your friends want. As to the drapers not liking and their finding fault with
our diapers, I am not conscious of any falling back in the fabric. But I know
that when an article is not just in demand the quality of the goods is generally
depreciated.
Meeting of the Court of Proprietors
4 April 1763
The Directors then acquainted the Court of Proprietors, that in consequence
of the plan laid before the last General Court, they had been conferring with
Messrs William Alexander & Sons, and Mr Ebenezer McCulloch, who have
proposed to undertake the linen trade now carried on at the Company’s
warehouse in Edinburgh, and to enter into a contract with the Company for
that purpose. But as the Directors were not empowered to conclude a treaty
upon this head, they could only talk to these gentlemen upon some general
articles vizt:
It has been proposed that the contractors shall as at the 30th of May next
take the whole linens in the Company’s warehouse at Edinburgh, and at the
different bleachfields, either at an appraised value, or at the prime cost, as be
agreed on. And also relieve the Company of all contracts they have come
under for the manufacturing or purchasing of linens, and of their bleachfields
and factories. And for a space to be agreed on, carry on that branch on the
joint-account of the Company and themselves. That the contractors shall
ensure the debts that shall come due to the copartnery, for which they are to
have a reasonable allowance. That the contractors find security to the Com¬
pany for a sum to be agreed on. The contractors to have the transacting of all
purchases, sales etc and they a reasonable commission for their trouble. That
the copartnery’s books be balanced annually, the net profits or loss be mutually
divided and paid. That these books be at all time patent to the Directors and
Managers for the British Linen Company.
The Directors are encouraged to enter into this copartnery with Messrs
Alexander and Mr McCulloch for these views. That they will thereby not only
continue their present trade but also enlarge it by means of Messrs Alex¬
anders’ house who already carry on the linen trade to a considerable extent.
And also that the Company giving up this branch of the trade on the terms