(seq. 32)

26
Mr Richard Waller Boston March 23d 1765
Sir
I duly rec.d your fav.rs of 13th + 20th {August} the former Covering
Bill Lading & Invoice of a Bale of Baize {per} Capt. Bruce which came safe to hand
but remains yet unsold as does the 3 Casks Ironmongery {per} Deverson, the Bale
of Baize & 7 {pieces} of the Cloth {per} Jarvis & the 2 {Hogsheads}Wool Cards {per} Dashwood
I have already wrote you how vastly overchargd the Ironmongery was, the Baize &
the Cloth are likewise much overchargd. I got a Gentleman to examine them who
understands English Goods as well as any person among us & has been an Importer
of them a number of years & whose varacity is to depended upon, he assures that
Baizes equal in quality with yours was Imported last year the Wide sort dyed in
grain at 2/9 Sterling {per} Yard that not in Grain at 2/2 the narrow sort for 1/6
& Cloths as good in quality as yours at 1/9 to 1/11. I have offerd the Baizes at the
above prices & 75 {per} {Cent}. advance at 6 months Credit, but am not able to obtain that
all our Shop Keepers here are very well acquainted with the prices of all English
Goods & cant be deceived in the Cost of them, Cash being very scarce & Trade dull
it is very difficult to vend Goods that are properly Chargd at 70 to 7 3/3 {per} {Cent}.
advance on 12 months Credit & at the time for payment a great uncertainty of
having the money. I have Sold 5 peices of the Cloth at 3/6 Lmo. {per} yard on {Credit} but
have no prospect of disposing of the remainder, when our Spring Trade opens
hope to find a market for the Wool Card at the old price. am really at a
Loss how to get the other goods off, it gives me great concern that I have
not been able to give you satisfaction in the disposal of your Goods, but will venture
to affirm no one could have done more for you than I have, should be glad of your
orders what to do with them, there will be no Chance of a Sale for the Baizes
& Cloths in an ordinary way till towards the Fall by which time I may receive
your further directions. I could wish you had not sent any Goods except Cards
till I could have procur'd Invoices, which method I wrote you, was the only
one in my oppion would have been for your Interest. your Ironmongery as
well as the other Goods are of the same Quality & goodness of the same Articles
Imported here at the prices I have mention'd to you, I have tried every method
I can think of to get of the Ironmongery but cant meet with any person that
will take them at any rate, all our dealers in that Article keep themselves
fully supply'd from England. I observe you had {received} the Tar {per} Hatch
with the Naval Store Bill, which hope turnd to better {Account} then the other
as I have not been able to obtain payment for the Cask of Ironmongery
I Sold Messrs. Southwick & Clark, I have not above £12 {Sterling} of your Cash now

[*{per} Capt. McKinlay. Copy {per} *]