Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

DEBT AND DEVOLUTION, 1763-1764
187
money Mr Neilson or our friends at Perth want, I will send them from hence.
Bills on London are very plenty here at present and no buyers.
To David Campbell, Dunfermline
27 November 1764
I am very favoured with yours of yesterday enclosing one for Mr Tod which
I have forwarded with John Grieg of the Mary & Janet [with] his receipt for
the 4 packs diaper consigned to Mr Tod. I really wish for the cost invoice of
these goods, as your not sending them with the London invoice may occasion
their being overlooked as I suspect this may in some degree already have
happened. I wish you to note to me how they stand with you. It will not I
dare say be for your interest to overstock your factors in goods. You should
certainly regulate your shipping by their sales and advices. The Directors of
this Company will I dare say have no objections to your sending the goods
you mention to Hanna and Son and will I know do all in their power consistent
with the Company’s interest to accommodate you. Mr Goldie is for this day
in the country.
Meeting of the Court of Proprietors
3 December 1764
The Directors further report that of the debts deemed desperate at 30th May
1763, amounting per report of the Directors and Committee of Proprietors
4th June 1764 to Twenty-two thousand and thirteen pounds, there was
recovered at 30th May 1764 Four hundred and twenty nine pounds, as since
that time Four hundred and thirty one pounds stg.
[The Following Memorandum was incorporated in the Minute of the
Meeting:]
A Short View of the Trade presently carried on by the British Linen
Company.
The Company at considerable charge introduced the spinning oflinen yams
into the Highlands of Scotland, which is now in such perfection as will afford
them considerable advantage. This trade employs from about 6 to 8000^ of
the Company’s money annually, and is of the utmost consequence to the
Country as no private society is equal to such an undertaking. The Company
are at present in advance for this branch ,£5380.
The Company when they find it can be done with safety, and when they
think it for the advantage of the Country, take V4 or share in the purchases
oflinen; and in that case they advance the whole money to the manufacturers
or linen dealers, and wait their reimbursement from the sale of the goods. This
at present supports a number of these manufacturers and dealers who from the
smallness of their capital would otherwise be obliged to give up business. On