iinish their leather. Unfortunately the older, more reliable Phila- 

 delphia concerns were not interested in handling the leather of a 

 new tannery at a time when cash was scarce and credit tight. 

 Rebuffed, Cardon turned to E. I. du Font's agent in Philadelphia: 



E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co. gave us the hope that you would undertake 

 to sell the produces of our tannery in Philadelphia & consequently we take 

 the liberty of sending you this day four bundles of sole leather .... We do 

 not suppose that you could keep the said leather at your own store, as the 

 shoe makers are accustomed to take it only from curriers, but our intention 

 is that you would put them at some of the curriers where you think they will 

 sell the best and as we can not go often in Philadelphia ourselves, that you 

 would attend to our business with them. Mr. Singers who are very rich & 

 have a great number of customers, like to sell only for tanners who take the 

 hides from them, they have not encouraged us to have our leather in their 

 store and we think it would be well to look for some other. 



Continuing, Cardon pointed out: 



The leather that we send you is extremely well tanned and perhaps better 

 than any in the market; but by some accident, is not what it will be in the 

 future and is a little too dark which is against its appearance. For that reason 

 we wish that vou will not mention that it comes from our factory.'^*' 



This letter reveals the specialization within the leather trade 

 as well as several ominous signs: first, in attempting to establish 

 a new account, Cardon and Company consigns leather which is 

 admittedly below par; second, they are too willing to turn over one 

 of the most important aspects of their business — leather sales — to 

 an impersonal commission merchant; third, they exhibit a certain 

 naivete in hoping that their name will not be associated with a poor 

 quality leather; and, finally, by circumstance they are forced to 

 deal with smaller, less dependable firms in Philadelphia. 



At first a variety of leather was manufactured at Hagley: 

 "We make ... a considerable quantity of calf skins and some 

 harness leather, both of the first quality and highly finished." ^''^ 

 (A detailed account of the process of making Morocco leather may 

 be found on pages 88-90.) But after three years the "Chief business" 

 was "tanning of Sole leather," ^''^ although red and black morocco 

 continued to be produced from sheep and goat skin. The black 

 goat was for the coachmakers, the yellow sheep for the hatters. 

 In addition Cardon and Company tanned boot linings and "cut 



"'^ Letter book, 1816-1827, A. Cardon and Company to John \'aughan, June 30, 1817. 



1"" Ibid. 



16S Letter book, March 1, 1819. 



6i 



