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“ The many spoil-traders in the Levant (and particularly 
the Jews) are the chief cause of those high prices which the 
products there now bear. For buying up cottons and other 
goods, and drawing for the same, it very often happens that 
the Receivers in Leghorn are obliged to sell them under 
prime cost, in order to raise money to pay those drafts. 
By the last advices from Smyrna they quote the price of 
first sort 40L$, which would cost in warehouse here 18|d. 
to 18£d. But the last sold here was lGfd. to I7d., so that 
there is a difference of 10 per cent. Indeed it often happens 
that articles from the Levant, especially cottons, generally 
sell here for less than they really lye in. 
“The advantages arising to the English and French by 
their traffick in the Levant is owing to the goods they send 
thither for sale; such as woollen goods and other manufac- 
tured articles, which fetch a good price there, and the agents 
often barter them for cotton wool. But notwithstanding 
these advantages both the English and French frequently 
apply to this city for Turkey cotton, which makes it evident 
that they can get it cheaper here than they could import it 
from the Levant.” 
Here is an account from Messrs. Mayler and Maxse, of 
Bristol, dated October 4th, 1774. 
“Cotton imported into Bristol this year: — 
June 10. From Nevis 2 B. sold I5d. very foul and stained. 
July 18. 
Tobago .. . . 
. 12 
„ 18d. clean and good staple- 
„ 28. 
Tortola 
. 3 
,, 1 7d. 'i 
Aug. 23. 
5? 
Dominica.. 
. 1 
V middling quality. 
„ 29, 
Grenada .. 
.150 
„ 20d. very good parcel. 
Sep. 1 3. 
Nevis 
. 3 
„ 16d. very dirty and dis- 
coloured. 
„ 24. 
Jamaica.. 
• 12 ) 
Not yet sold, but engaged at mar- 
Ditto 
. 53) 
ket price, supposed 19 to 20d. 
Tobago .. 
. 14 
19d. clean and good. 
250 Bags. 
“ Most of the cotton imported at Bristol goes through the 
hands of Mayler and Maxse. Customary payment for cotton 
