Manchester Mevwzrs, Vol. xlv. (1901), No. 8. 49 



to go to London yourself and get introduced to Lord Spencer, which you 

 may easily do either through the medium of your friend Mellish or by the 

 introduction of Lord Grey or by either of the members for Lancashire. You 

 might show Lord Spencer as much of your Brother James's Letter as you 

 think proper, and I doubt not but his Lordship will be much pleased with 

 the prospect of such a supply of Masts, especially as the prospect of a supply 

 from the North of Europe, at present, does not seem very flattering. The 

 only difficulty that appears is the mode of conveying them to Europe ; for 

 your brother says there are no ships large enough in America to take them 

 on board. The main mast of one of our first rates is about no feet 

 long, and there are few merchant ships, except East India Men, of 

 that length. If some of our old 50 gun ships were fitted up for 

 that purpose they might answer very well ; and by having their upper deck 

 Guns on board they wou'd be able to fight a good battle if they were 

 attacked, and this wou'd preclude the necessity of Convoys, especially if 

 they had King's Officers put on board them. You might hint this mode of 

 conveyance to Lord Spencer, who wou'd, in all probability, take it into 

 consideration. And, if you possibly can, agree to deliver the Masts at 

 Baltimore and let Government take what measures they think proper to get 

 them from thence. In short, this seems a most favourable time to push the 

 business, and one half hour's conversation with Lord Spencer may do more 

 than half a year's writing cou'd. Before you wait upon Lord Spencer I 

 would have you wait upon some principal ship builder & get information 

 from them respecting the present value of masts, timbers, &c. I know very 

 well, that previous to the present War the price of a 74 Gun Ship's Main 

 Mast was upwards of ^^500, that is the whole expense of Timber, iron, work- 

 manship, &c. But this you will be enabled to learn by being on the spot, 

 much better than I can tell you. If, when you are in London, you do not 

 agree with Government, I should recommend, as the next best market, the 

 East India Company, and there I dare say your friend Mellish may be able 

 to assist you greatly. At all events I think a trip to London may be of 

 essential service, & I sincerely hope you will find it so 



Although I have only mentioned Lord Spencer above, yet I know very 

 well that he will do nothing in this business by himself ; he will probably get 

 some of the Commissioners of the Navy to treat with you ; or at least to be 

 present at your conference, and I wou'd advise you to get introduced to that 

 board previous to your seeing his Lordship. 



On December 6th Cable writes : — 



I am much obliged to you for your information about the best means of 

 preserving eggs, which I dare say may be useful to those people who live in 

 a country where they are to be had ; but that country is by no means the 

 Isle of Man. An Egg, for sale, is here a natural curiosity. I have been 

 told, by Old People, that such things were formerly to be bought ; but since 

 the prodigious Influx of Strangers they have vanished and they are no more 

 to be met with in the Markets. Indeed, the prospect of Starvation stares us 



