Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Holmes – 8 Nov 1773

To Mr Holmes                       			Farnacres 8th November 1773



Dear Sir

       Your Letter of the 16th Ult now reced when we were out upon the Recet of the Rents of Greenwich Hospital and their business together with Mr Smeatons severe attack of the Gravel which confined him to his Room from Wednesday morning early til Saturday Night had prevented our having the pleasure of writing to you til now.

       The Bill upon Mr Thomas Newton has been presented and is, or will be, paid, and when we draw for the next Cake you shall have Credit for the amount; we shd certainly have deducted the amount out of the Draft for the last Cake of 618 1/2 Ounces but not having taken a Copy of the Bill when we left it in the hands of a Friend at Hexham we cannot distinctly recollect the Sum it was for.

       We have this day drawn upon you for £175.4.10 being the amount of 618 1/2 Ounces of Bullion at 5s8d P Ounce, for tho' you say we may draw at 5s9d yet as you observe that will be such a price as barely to give you something or perhaps only save yourself and as you have given us the value of fine Silver compared with Standard which amounts to no more than 5s8d 1/4 we could not think of drawing for more than 5s8d.   We beg leave to inform you that it is not a matter of consequence to us whether we receive 5s8d or 6s 1/2d P Ounce not but that we wish Bullion to keep at the best price; the principal matter with us is to be able to show the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital from our Accts that we Sell their Silver from time to time at the Markett price and we must not expect you to deal with us upon any other terms than you would do with any other Person who could furnish you with the like Commodity.

       By the London Carrier who set out from Newcastle on Saturday last we sent a Box which we hope will come safe to hand.

       We are etc

               	N W Junr   J S 





Sir                                             Farnacres 8th November 1773

Twenty days after date Pay Mssrs Bell Cookson Carr Widdrington and Saint or their Order One Hundred and Seventh five Pounds Four Shillings and Ten Pence.     Value received as advised by Sir.  Your Humble Servants	Walton & Smeaton 



To Mr John Holmes   London