Volume 05: John Macarthur letters from H. H. Macarthur and accounts, 1810-1829

[Page 6]

Hannibals letters to his Uncle J. Macarthur 1812 — 16

Madeira April 10th 1812-

My dear Uncle,

I now enclose Ten Copies of Invoices of Wines. You will find them higher than was expected; They are of good Quality & will no doubt answer our Expectations in the Colony. — Mr Keir says had he not been so hurried, he could have made them up at a lower Price, but as he was led to expect us every Day, he gives us the Wine usually shipped to the West Indies. — The next Shipm^t he thinks may be differently arranged and will be probably lower, as the Vines promise a very abundant Crop. — The Produce has been deficient the last 2 Yrs. and this has raised the Price of Wine — Mr Keir will communicate his Ideas on a future Shipment to the House in Broad Street. — He enters into all our Views and I regret that You cannot be known to him, as I think You would be much pleased at having such a Correspondent here. —

We have Ships here that were some Days before us and not taking half the Quantity of Wines. —

Mr Veitch the Consul General has made himself very troublesome to us by endea =vouring to force upon Us on freight 18 Pipes of Wine for the 763 Regt. – This we of course declined but consented to take the Governor & Lt. Governor 2 Pipes each – When Capt. Higton waited on him with his Papers he told him "had he not taken the four Pipes he should have obliged him to take the whole by the Portuguese Laws and that he would have detained him Eight Days to take Letters for the Por-tuguese Government. This He could do! and he knew the only redress the Owners could get by trying it in England would be the Recovery of a sum [original crossed out] Adequate to the Profits made on our own shipment. – After this I would have refused to take any, but finding that he could actually detain and give us a great deal of trouble, and this would not answer our Purposes at present, unless he had persisted in shipping the Whole and then I should have taken the necessary Steps to gain redress in England

I mention this so particularly as it will be necessary to be prepared for him next time as I find he has an Order to make this shipment Annually if Opportunity offers and as he is interested in a House here, he will if possible take advantage of his situation and annoy Jon by his Influence with the Portuguese – I wrote You on the 4th. Inst. by a Brig bound to Lisbon; & then informed You that although Mr. Keir takes my Bills on You at 14 Months 9 is the longest usual Credit and lest that Letter should miscarry, I repeat it for your Guidance in settling for the 10 Pipes. – The House in Broad St. takes up their Draft at 6 Months for the 100 Pipes. – I shall draw on You for £49.6s.8d which I found it necessary to lay out Once in processing an additional Supply of Cabin Stores. – Our Mate has turned out a compleat drunken Vagabond but we are fortunate enough to get another who is well recommended from a West Indiaman laying here Cap^t. Higton is every thing that can be wished and we find Ourselves very pleasantly situated on

on board. – Here we are living with Mr. Keir who is extremely kind & Attentive. I send You by this Opportunity a Power of Attorney made out at sea I hope it will be sufficient. – The slip of Drab silk will also accompany this Letter – I could not get at more than One half the French Wines these I brandied, I found them in good order, I have taken off a few Bottles of it as a Sample for Rio Janeiro where I hope to find a Market for some of it. – The Isabella sails well and I hope we shall make a very good Passage from this, as I am sure she is in much better Trim – The Mary Ann sailed in company with us from England and I am happy to tell You that we have a great Advantage of her in sailing. – I have promised some Vine Cuttings and have made myself acquainted with the mode of cultivating them here. The Consul has taken a mean advantage of our consent to take four Pipes of