Series 4 > William Melrose in China, 1845-1855

135
1850
The Exhibition in ’51 will I daresay make a bustling year of it and
help to increase the consumption of tea. The consumption of it
lately has been increasing greatly, I suppose from the cheap rates
people have been able to obtain it at. We will most likely for the
next two years to come have large exports from here if the con¬
sumption goes on as it does and then, should anything check the
consumption, high prices perhaps or potato disease, we would have
bad times again, which we must be on the lookout for.
There is nothing new to give you. I hope this will find you all
well. I am glad to say I am quite strong, the cold weather has such
a bracing effect. I am better than when I was at home, but that may
be from my not having entirely recovered from the effects of the
illness I had in China when I was at home. Hoping next mail to
hear that you have been pleased with what my September letters
will have advised having done for you.
William to Mr Simpson
Macao, 27 December 1850
I have your October letters and have also received firsts of £5,000
of Commercial Bank to hand all safe.
I have to advise having purchased against the £5,000 just received
for joint account the following, of which I sent samples to Ewart:
YING LAN1
FUEY KEE
NE LAN
GINEE LEE
MAN TIE
100 and odd chests Souchong at Tls 19J
Bx Canister (is. 3|d.)2
200 and odd chests of Souchong at Tls 20J
B2 Canister (is. 4^d.)
200 and odd chests of Souchong at Tls 19
B3 Canister (is. 3jd.)
200 and odd chests of Souchong at Tls 21.7
B4 Canister (is. 5|d.)
200 and odd chests of Souchong at Tls 19J
B5 Canister (is. 3£d.)
1 This and the following are proper names, used to designate the various chops of
tea.
2 All quotations of price in parentheses were written in another handwriting, presum¬
ably that of Andrew Melrose.