Letters – Benjamin Johnson to Finlay & Hodgson – 27 Apr 1833

Messrs Finlay Hodgson & Co	London					Apl 27th 1833

	

I am in rec[ei]pt of your two letters of the 22nd inst. Messrs Bayley got 600 frs common lead last week. A statement of our stock of lead at the Mills on the Road and at Blaydon shall be sent after 30th inst. The Mills Agents have directions to send down their monthly delivery Accts for me on the !st of May. I fear we shall fall short of Common Lead to meet our sales to the end of May shd Messrs Walker press the delivery of the whole of theirs. Mr Pattinson – as might be expected – has met with more difficulties than he anticipated in his new process. He has made but 150 frs this week, consequently I cannot send Mr Key a Keel before next Saty. When sent I will write to Mr Key. You surprise me by stating that the Trade can make any objection to my sale to M H Grace. Recollect he is an old customer who left at the time our refd leads was in bad repute – a ready money customer is not to be rejected. My sale had a twofold object  - to establish the price of refined lead at £14- which has had a beneficial effect here, and to win him from purchasing from the London Co. The small quantity 20 tons was but a sample and I have no doubt will be followed by much larger purchases. The money is already paid to Glyns on the receipt of Invoice. We know the great Houses purchase WB Lead from a convenience, not from a courtesy. Its quality always finds a market when there is a demand. The Greenwich Hospital have sold their dirty Ore to the Hudgill Co at 57/- per Bing lead selling at £13 per fodder and to receive 5/- per Bing advances upon every advance of £1 per fodder on Lead. I can assure you we hear of no decrease in price for Lead in this quarter but an expected advance. Mr Backhouse is proceeding with with the Acct you require but as they have first to be posted in the Books some little time must elapse before I can send them. 

When may we expect to see Mr Donkin

							BJ