1820-1824
Gloucestershire Archives TS/124
Outgoing letters from Brimscombe Port September 1820-May 1824
Mr George authorises me to say that he will convey Mr Strange’s beans to Bristol as cheap as Mr Strange can. The Bristol trow can be detained till their arrival here.
I have had the aqueduct at Latton examined but no leakage could be discovered. Mr Jones reckons there must be considerable leakage in the lower level.
Nothing heard from Mr Pitt even though he was in the county last week. I asked Mr Stone to call on him but no result so far.
Weather has been favourable for the various repairs upon the canal. Hoping that Mr Jones can discharge most of the men employed in the Summit in the coming week.
Visit of the Committee expected at the Freemason’s Tavern.
Favourable weather should enable vessels to navigate by end of this week.
Chimney piece shipped from this place on 7 May and delivered at Swindon Wharf as per receipt of Mr Priestley.
To reduce tonnage of FoD stone passing into the Wilts & Berks Canal beyond the N W Branch Wharf to 2s 6d per ton so long as the W&B charge no more than 2s 6d per ton for the same from Latton to Abingdon.
The last dividend declared was up to April 1820, 30s on the red and 1s 6d on the black shares – since then, net proceeds purposed for doing extra repairs to the summit level and repairing lock gates.
Request for present price for best milled sheet lead per foot if taken in quantity of 4 tons.
Request by return of post a “trifling” sum due from you to this Company.
Have directed D Davies to proceed with the Trow ‘Mary’ to Newport for a cargo of Blaenavon coals, 23 tons small and the residue house keepers size.
The T&S Canal have recently made a large reduction in their tonnage upon Newport coal carried to Oxford in order to meet (if possible) the Somersetshire Hall Lane and Golden Valley smiths’ coal at that place.
The ‘Mary’ will be with you about Wednesday next.
Re instructions of the Committee, I hand you a plan of the proposed alterations to be made in the house I occupy, by which five good sized rooms will be obtained in lieu of two (as at present) only calculated for servants or children. To effect this, the walls will require raising 7 feet, and a flat roof covered with lead, instead of slate substituted for the present one as already explained. This plan will afford sleeping rooms altogether for 7 gentlemen of the Committee in addition to my own family.
Since the Committee left this place, it occurred to me that the timber in the roof of the covered dock due to be taken down would be fully adequate to all the purposes of the proposed allocation and consequently save considerable expense, this, together with the circumstance of the Company’s regular carpenters doing the major part of the work, the stone for raising the walls being part of that extracted out of the Summit level, and the employment of the Company’s own labourers, renders an accurate estimate of the expense impracticable. It might exceed £100 or £120 more than the Company will be obliged to spend on the present roof, with adding the least accommodation.
The original Register and the original Transfer book shall be sent on soon. Resolutions & Orders made at this place on 4 Jul are enclosed.
Mr McIntosh has delivered his bill for £1469 of which £1300 he has already received..
Mr Jones has sent a plan as instructed by the Committee for enlarging the house he lives in at Siddington, enclosed.
Visit to Herefordshire where expectations of purchasing better and more suitable timber, anticipated price about £700.
Discussion re timber – free from knots.
Lack of a meeting has delayed authorisation of proposed alterations to my house.
Letter from Mr Hays of Dymock indicated you were on the way with timber for me from Over, and I made preparations, but have been disappointed. When may I expect it?
Intention of running water out of the Bourne level to check the new lock gates. Should not inconvenience navigation unduly.
Repairs now completed and navigation restored.
Papers received.
Usual papers enclosed together with the book of transfers of shares. Mr J Lane has just left, having ridden over from Cheltenham that morning.
Better to await the determination and order of the General Assembly in October before beginning the proposed alterations to my house.
Stroud Canal to be stopped for a fortnight during which a pair of new lock gates can be erected at Chalford.
Gloucester Journal of today contained a notice of intended application to Parliament to repeal the Acts relating to the River Thames.
Comment re T&S Act concerning pricing fee of land purchase over 30 years and company wants to be exonerated from all parliamentary and parochial taxes.
Canal is stopped today at Chalford and Siddington for new lock gates to be erected.
I have asked D Davies asked to go to Newport with the trow ‘Mary’ to load up with good coal.
Notification of tonnage on timber to this place.
Reminder of rent of £5 due 29 Sep in respect of Grist Mill at Sapperton.
Repairs on the Stroudwater as well as lock gate closures at Chalford and Siddington will be finished on Thursday. The demand for coal down the River Thames particularly at Oxford is considerable.
Usual papers.
Shall be at the New Inn at Lechlade on Wednesday closing the wharf accounts.
Stroudwater repairs were finished last Wednesday. Expect arrivals in the coming week to be considerable.
I can find room for a cargo of best second coals at times and prices – let know by return immediately.
Usual cash notes enclosed.
More cash notes enclosed.
Re coals already shipped and quality.
Details of coal sent per John Jones, William Gardener & J Radburn.
About lock gates at Cerney and beyond the North Wilts Junction
Re rent due to the Dean & Chapter of Bristol Cathedral for land taken for use by T&S Navigation.
Enclosing cash notes.
Net proceeds of this half-yearly accounts exceed that of any corresponding period for many years. Recent repairs and maintenance have enabled boats to carry full cargoes.
The general assembly of the T&S Canal coming up on 28 October needs to consider matters raised in my two letters of 19 July. The Company should buy Mr Miller’s property as in Mr Pitts letter of 19 July. Mr McIntosh’s bill should be settled.
Vessels should be prevented from navigating on Sundays when watchmen and other servants cannot always be in attendance. T&S Canal is the only one to allow it. The introduction of the Wilts & Berks Canal size boats makes the decision more urgent.
Long discussion of the coal trade.
Payment enclosed for Williams cargo of coals delivered. No more coal required at Cirencester.
Details of coal accounts.
The hurricane last week caused damage in the neighbourhood of the canal, but not to the canal itself.
I will take two boat cargoes of your best Sawyers coals delivered at this place when floods subside.
Hope that the boats can navigate the canal when the floods will allow. The various wharfs have ample stocks of coal.
Usual weekly papers enclosed. Paying for the oak tree bay mentioned in former letters.
Some misunderstanding about prices of coal.
Re your letter of 17th, no alterations contemplated in the Company’s concerns at Lechlade.
Importation of coal last week was very considerable.
At present the supply of coal is unequal to the demand and boats remain here for several days previous to coal arriving to load them.
Reference to lands belonging to the See of Salisbury in the parish of Marston Maisey. A dispute between the Bishop and the lessees – meeting of the Commissionres was held 7 April 1788 for the purposes of adjudging amount placed in names of Sir Edward Littleton Bart and E L Lovedon in the hands of Child & Co Bankers. Mr Crowdy of Highworth received the money on 23 March 1816.
In reply to your letter, there are 4 casks marked D-T lying in our warehouse at Wallbridge, and if you send an order, they will be delivered to J Partridge & Co.
I understand that the ‘Mary’ did not go to Newport as intended in consequence of the captain being informed she could not be loaded in time to save her spring tide up. Great disappointment.
Late rains will impact on the working of the pits in the Forest of Dean and consequently upon the supply of coal – much to be regretted at this particular period.
The terms for the mill will be 30 guineas per annum.
Scarcity of coals in the event of a severe frost is truly alarming.
Statement of water taken from the River Churn for the supply of the canal during the past season amounting to less than any payment on the same account for the previous 18 years.
Re iron work for lock gates, in all cases receive instructions in writing from Mr Jones.
Present good weather favourable to coal movement along the line of the canal.
Long letter about sacrifices made during the introduction of Forest coal to markets along the River Thames and the current state of the trade (when inland duty on coal is hopefully abadoned).
If you do not like the increase in rent of the mill you occupy, you are at liberty to quit either Lady Day or Midsummer Day.
Commissioners of the River Thames determined to allow stone to pass between Abingdon and Reading at a reduced cost. Evidently an attempt to favour the Wilts & Berks Canal (in the conveyance of Bath Stone} against the Kennett & Avon Canal.
Usual weekly papers.
Conditions imposed for the hire of the upper floor of the warehouse at Cirencester – price offered not sufficient. Not to be used for housing goods or corn.
4 cheques enclosed.
Usual weekly papers enclosed.
Messrs Pitt directed to pay £100 for credit of T&S Canal.
Coals continue to arrive very sparingly.
Questions about quantities of stone landed at T&S Wharf at Wallbridge last summer and that Mr George had entered 18 tons.
Question of T&S Canal drawback certificates not being received relating to cargoes of coal.
Commissioners of the Thames meeting is fixed for 11 February at Henley. Oxford Papers sent to Mr Lane.
Coal imports for the last year have been very considerable.
Cannot add anything to my letter of 28 February 1821.
Suggested wording for a letter to the Thames Commissioners urging improvements to increase trade.
I will pay the Churn Millers at Cirencester this day.
Your joint note for £100, payable 24th inst has been passed to our bank. If you do not pay it, the Company’s solicitors will be informed without further notice.
A piece of pine timber has been brought to this place by Mr Miller’s boats without any consignment details.
I do not expect Mr Miller to be able to pay more than 5 shillings in the pound.
At the Thames Commissioners meeting at Henley on 11th, Mr Protheroe brought forward the possibility of a bounty being given for cargoes that went the whole length of the Thames.
Several vessels out of employment by reason of early seasonal weather. Fear of the coal trade falling off and resulting in lower receipts for the half year ending in April.
Hope that a motion proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be carried enabling inland coals to be taken into the London markets.
Still fear that coal movements on most canals will continue to fall resulting from the late mild season.
Can’t take the coal as we have more Staffordshire coal than can be sold at our wharf in 6 months.
Your boat will be subject to pay for 20 tons @ 3 pence per ton per mile upon this canal.
It is lamentable to have so little trade while the canal is overflowing with water.
Three £10 cash notes enclosed.
Re letter of 18th, the 50 shares sold by Mr J Fell to Mr Palmer. Are all of the best sort.
Looking into selling coal in the London market.
Last weeks imports are rather more pleasing than of late. The consumption of coal by steam engines increases fast.
Have today ordered the trow Patrick, William Davies master, to Newport to load a cargo of your large Blaenavon coals on account.
Usual papers and cash.
An advertisement appeared in the Gloucester Journal for Red or best T&S Black shares.
Asking for the number of shares in the Wilts & Berks Canal in the name of E J Littleton, and the present price.
Have written Mr Dunsford respecting Mr Littleton’s shares.
Letter received from clerk of the Wilts & Berks Canal stating 24 shares stand in the name of Mr E J Littleton and also that the price of Wilts & Berks shares is £11 and £11.5.0.
The roof of my house should be replaced today.
Enclosed you have halves cash notes £280.
I now enclose remaining halves of cash notes of £280.
Half yearly accounts in preparation and will show lower than expected tonnages, as many of the boats have been thrown out of employment early in the season.
Five pounds received and credited to your account You have forgotten to return the key of the counting house door.
A small vessel loaded with large Bullo coal expected at Lechlade. And another is on its way.
Enclosed halves of cash notes - £55.
I embrace the opportunity of Mr Webb returning to Newport for sending my draft of £24 17 3d for coal delivered by Patriot on 27 March.
The net proceeds of the past half-year will surpass those for any corresponding period for a few years.
Solicitors instructed to proceed for the recovery of debt unless it is paid prior to 1 June, and without further notice.
Copies of accounts enclosed.
Papers enclosed.
There appears every reason to suppose the Thames & Isis Steam Boat scheme will be carried into effect, doubtless proving to be beneficial to the Thames & Severn Canal (subject to the Inland Duty on coal being abandoned). Particularly for carrying nublins suitable for steam engines.
Further repairs proposed to be done to the summit level and to several lock gates.
Lamentable that goods should be delayed at the summit, but our Company cannot do anything to help you.
Canal will be stopped for repairs on Monday 7th for three weeks or a month.
Re wharfage paid upon the cargo of coal by T Hale and resolution of 30 December 1818.
Index of entries
