Catalogue description 16 April 1829   Leech and Harrison (per Harrison) at Liverpool to William Longsdon of...

16 April 1829

Leech and Harrison (per Harrison) at Liverpool to William Longsdon of Charleston, South Carolina, care of Messrs Masters and Mackoe, New York per Canada. Writer has already written William at some length by this vessel and avail of her again as best conveyance to acknowledge William's of 14 and 17 March per William.

Sorry to inform William that James Kennedy died day before yesterday having been failing for some time. Assured that he will leave his family well off and that the mills will go on as usual, but writer has written to Mr Shuttleworth for information by whom shall be guided in regard to William's shipment for him per Hogarth and William which are in their docks and per Fingal not arrived. Will do all William could but satisfied shall have such answer from Mr Shuttleworth as will convince writer that all is as William could desire it.

Ogdens has paid William's draft on them for £63 instead of accepting.

Their cotton market remains dull. Good fair upland 5 7/8 hardly 6d can be got and other kinds in about same proportion. William's shipments have been enormously heavy owing to contrary winds preventing William from receiving accounts from this place. As to panic they cannot see how one can happen while prices of everything so low. Depression they expect and much misery but not main failures now. Writer has heard that Ministers are in indirect correspondence with County Bankers on subject of currency and they are not without fears that they will let notes out again which some years hence would bring another panic. Sees nothing to fear now.

Letters yesterday from Mr Smithers informing writer that Mrs Longsdon had sent Mr William Wager to him to say that the death of her father had decided her to live with her family at the cottage and so to keep, unsold, for her son, the side...... which Mr Naylor valued at £2100 - so William's acceptance of Naylor's offer set aside by circumstances which found no consideration when offer made. Mr S asks if he should take the back land for £1900 and leave William to arrange with Executors about £2100 lot. JH has told him not to miss the said back land more especially as William thought it cheapest and seemed indifferent what he had. If Mrs Longsdon keeps land for her son it is what William cannot but approve. When William has finally done with Executors he may feel comfortable and not until then. 4 persons are not easily agreed upon any point, and there is a natural vain importance in minds of some of them that actually unfits them for plain straight forward dealing. Accounts set out summarising purchases and sales of 78 acres cost £7892. 8s 9d