Letter – John Blackett to James Morton – 18 Mar 1709

Mr James Morton                                                                  Rotterdm the 18 March 1709



Sr	I am favoured wth yours of the 25th feby per Stile, by wch I perceive you load the Liddell John Binks wth a Bulk of Good Coales you may be assured I will do my utmost endeavour to Sell them at the highest price but at present here is no demand, we have had a very hard winter & our Rivers being froze no Coales could be Sent to any place the coales wch was lade up are all yet unsold, I cannot write you any price, but when our Rivers are cleare of Ice wch will be in 8 or 10 days I hope there will be a demand, but if maney Ships comes together I am afraid there will be but little if any proffit, we Shall find it very difficult to get boats to take the coales out, most of ours being prest for the States Service assoon as the Ship arrives will go to all the Brewers houses in town & will get them Sold if possible, we have delivered a Request to our Deputies of State wch are gone to Ryssel to prohibit all coales from france to come into flanders if this takes Effect coales will give a good price but I would not have you Send any more till you hear further from me [struck out: ‘I think you give to’] I have no Inclination to take a Share in the loading, if Mr Allan has price Ships of his own to dispose of, but I hear that when Robt Paine ships wch came last from your place will be Sold assoon as he arrives, I believe Allan has a Share, there is one unthank wch will be at your place in a Short time will be Sold & Old Allan is to have the direction over her in 6 Weeks time Severall English Ships will be Sold in this place, there are none of yours yet arrived, assoon as I hear their <bigness> Shall write you, Just now Mr Cowenburgh tells me in 3 Months time he expects 3 or 4 Ships wch he designes to Sell they are from 100 to 300 tuns, Mr Allan likewise tells me that <R>pairs Ship is to be Sold,     I am