Messrs Plummer (3 results)

The three items form a letter of 4pp., foolscap 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf: 'Bill loading | Messrs. Hankeys Plummer & Wilson | Mincing Lane | London | Lady Kathe Barham'. Docketed '97 Robert Locke | 10 | 28 July 1837 | Received 20 September [1837]'. The bill of loading covers the whole of the first page, with two columns of closely written items, ranging from '2300 yds Osnabury 8lbs do thread' to quinine, opium and '1 Box Hydrometer proof Bubbles from 15 to 30'. The dozens of other entries also include: '1500 needles 100 fine ditto', '1 doz (ea) soup & shallow Plates | 1/2 Breakfast cups and saucers', '1m Copper Pump Tacks', '2 Gross Wine Corks 1 dozen (ea)', '1/2 Ream Foolscap paper 6 quires | large Folio post 4 Blk ink powders | An Assortment of Garden Seeds'. Directions on the reverse of the first leaf read: 'A Plough to be made of the same dimensions as the one sent for last year but particularly to have it made of wrought Iron with three spare Mould boards three wrought Iron Coulters Six wrought Iron shares and other necessary spare Iron. The head of the plough to be attached to the land side instead of the Mould board.' There follows the 'Duplicate' of a letter from Locke to Messrs Hankeys. Among general news he writes: 'The present Season is rather unhealthy to the white population, several of whom have dropt off and I am sorry to say amongst them Mr. Moon the young man who was a Bookeeper [sic] at Cornwall'. He continues with news of Moon's illness and burial at the Cornwall Burrying Ground, 'with due attention and solemnity'. Ridyard and Locke's letter covers a whole page. Among other matters they report 'the safe landing of the Still and other articles', the 'plate for Mesopot[ami]a. Plough', 'the Ploughman McKinzie' ('as Capable as any Scotland can produce'). '[.] all that is necessary for us to say, at present, is that our Plough is of four Horse Power, and always breaks the furrow up from solid ground, it is not regular ploughing which is much easier work'. They continue on the same theme, before turning to 'Captain Morton', whom they will give 'any assistance in wainage &c he may require'. Lady Katherine Barham was the daughter of the first Earl of Verulam and widow of the MP John Foster-Barham. In 1839 she married George Villiers (1800-1870), 4th Duke of Clarendon. From the Hankey banking archive.

4pp., 4to. 112 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with closed tears along fold lines. Addressed, with two postmarks (one of Trinidad) to 'W. Wilson Esqr. | 7. Mincing Lane | London | Packet'. A closely-written letter, well-written and filled with content, and with a few clues about the identity of the writer. It begins: 'A merry Xmas to you & all my friends in England. I remembered you in my cups, but the liquor was only water for I have become almost a teetotaller of late, having had a little about me when I left St Kitts. [.] Thomas Hankey [Wilson's partner], you know, gave me a letter to Mr Warner, but he anticipatedd the delivery of it, for, hearing of my arrival, he came to visit me, "to see, as he said, if I was his old school fellow of the same form at Eton." I told him it must be Charles. He was librarian at Eton with John Hankey whom he made many enquiries about.' Other topics include the 'Governor pro tem, Sir Charles Chichester', 'Mr. Woolley', Port of Spain, which 'does not you from the sun, tho' I shld think it has not its equal as a Town in the W. Indies. Even the Havannah I understand is inferior in beauty. All the streets are wide, & at right angles, & the principal one has a fine avenue of trees down the middle of it - many of the houses too are detached with gardens around them - so, wherever you go, you see orange trees, mangoes, & other beautiful trees & gigantic cactus among the houses.' A reference to 'people playing at cricket' follows. He recounts a story about Sir Ralph Woodford and his French cook. He does a crude drawing showing the 'singular' position of Trinidad. There follow references to 'Mr. Kernahan' and Harmony Hall and 'Mr. Macquary'. He describes the Pitch Lake - 'the greatest curiosity' the writer has ever seen - which is not 'one unvaried expanse of blackness'. 'When I was at Harmony Hall I assisted in the catching of an alligator - it was a very young one however', adding 'What say you for this lecture on natural philosophy! But the world is very ungrateful.' He concludes: 'I hope you won't detain me here - but if you think it advisable, I answer I sh't grumble. Adieu, my old friend. Pray write to me to tell me all the gossip, for chit chat about ones friends extremely pleasant when you are away.' From the Hankey banking archive.

The connection between the two firms of London bankers Thompson Hankey & Co., and Plummer & Wilson & Co. is unclear, but after the bankruptcy of John Plummer and William Wilson of Fenchurch Street 1831, a new firm named Hankey, Plummer & Wilson was formed, Plummer & Wilson bringing to it a number of clients including Beckford. The source of Beckford's vast wealth was of course the family's sugar plantations in the West Indies, and this document dates from before the abolition of slavery. 3pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. Very good, on laid paper with Britannia watermark of 'E SMITH | 1828'. Six numbered points are given, beginning with: '1o. That Messrs. Hankey & Co. shall pay over the Balance due from Wm. Beckford Esq: to the Estate of Messrs. Plummer & Wilson without any Charge for Commission; but, before such Balance is paid over, the Accounts shall be subject to the examination of Mr. Smith the accountant from the 30th. April 1825 to the close of Messrs. Plummer & Wilson's books.' The second point refers to 'the Jamaican Attornies' Bills'; the third to 'payments to the merchants in Cash'; the fourth to 'Invoices of Supplies'; the fifth to 'payments for Premiums on Policies of Insurance'; and the last to 'Securities by Bonds or otherwise & the Interest thereon'. From the Hankey banking archive.