Robert Simmey,Aberdeen

"No bagpipe reeds, 1836.
Geo Croll of Perth to Robert Simmey, of Aberdeen"

by

Eunice Shanahan

The letter was written and posted on 29th November, 1836 by George Croll of Perth and addressed to Mr. Robert Simmey, Reed Manufcr, Aberdeen. It has three postal markings

1) the additional halfpenny mark is Type IVA, ( an unframed ½ ) size 20 x 12 black ink, recorded in use 20.3.1832 to 4.11.1839, this was applied in Perth.

2) the charge mark of 9, which would be the cost of sending a single page letter, a distance of between 80 and 120 miles and the actual distance from Perth to Aberdeen was just about 90 miles,

3) the Perth circular date stamp.

A web search found Reed manufacturers in Aberdeen and Robert Simmey.

Now to the letter, which is a perfect example of getting value for your postage charge. There are two letters enclosed, one a copy of a different letter, and the letter has been continued on both ends of the ‘ears’ of the address side of the paper. The first part was written by George Croll. I have found entries for him in the Perth Directory for 1836-37, (when this letter was written), noting that he was a member of the Police Committee, the Fund Committee and the Cleansing Committee, so he was obviously involved in the business life of Perth. I believe the cane he is referring to in the letter is for bagpipes.

Perth 29 Novr 1836
My Dear Sir,
I duly received your favour of the 25 instant. I am truly sorry it is now out of my power to send you any Cane just now. The Reed makers here and Dundee are all out of Cane. Since I wrote you last I have had to give James Forty Cane as I could not refuse him. You was fortunate in getting the thousand of Cane from Mr. Campbell.
Mr Ireland was in Glasgow at the time & also got a thousand of small Cane from Mr Campbell at £8 per 1000 being all he had. I wrote to Liverpool when you wrote me in July you will see my answer on the other side. I have two thousand of Cane on the way from America when I recd your letter on Saturday I wrote the person who is getting it for me and have received a letter that it is expected in Liverpool about three weeks after this. If it comes to hand I will give you part of it.
The letter then continues with family news.

My Son Robert was here about three weeks ago he informed me of Mr Drinnie being near Dundee now into a most respectable situation. I am sorry Mrs Simmey is still confined to the house but glad to hear she is in ordinary health. I have called on your Sister she says she has no word as Robert wrote you when he was here about 2 weeks ago. He called on me when he was here. He was very stout and in good order when I saw him he remained in Perth four days & then went to Dundee again.
Trade here in it's ordinary way but a great many failures in Dundee but none of very long standing. I would have wrote you on Saturday but waited for an answer about the Cane I expected into Liverpool. We are all in our ordinary way Mrs Croll joins me in best respects to you & Mrs Simmey I am
My Dear Sir
yours Respectfully
Geo. Croll
Then on the other half of the page he has copied the letter he mentioned on the previous page, this was from the Agent in Liverpool, Wm Henry Dobie & Co.

Liverpool 2 August 1836
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 30th Ult we beg to state that there are no good Cane in the Liverpool Market. About four thousand were imported last week which we looked at but they were of a dingy yellow colour & small in size and the price too high that they could not be shipped to your Port free on board here under Ten Guineas per thousand long Count. Very few have been imported this year & we do not think many are expected, but if you can wait for 3 or 4 months we could order some to be here in that time and which could be shipped to you free on board here at from £8.10.0 to £9 per thousand.

Dear Sir
your Most Obt Sevt
Wm Henry Dobie &Co Commission Agents Liverpool.

I sent no answer to the above letter or it might been here
Geo Croll.
Note: "free on board" is a shipping term widely used internationally meaning that the buyer pays for transportation of the goods. Specific terms of the agreement can vary widely, in particular which party (buyer or seller) pays for which shipment and loading costs, and/or where responsibility for the goods is transferred.

The letter continues on the folded ‘ears’ of the address page of the letter.

This is the season of the year that the ripe Cane comes home. I think you cannot do better than write to Liverpool tomorrow & I will thank you to send me a Copy of the answer you get - they are good judges of Cane.
If you are to be out of Cane write to Mr Henry Dobie & Co if it can be got in Liverpool they will send it to you. They are a very Honourable Co. you can pay the postage of your letter and they may be of Service to you any time you are out of Cane.
A web search has also revealed that the Commission Agent, Wm Henry Dobie and Partner, William Grant Forsyth were recorded on page 415 of the Law Advertiser of Dec 25 1824 as having filed for Bankruptcy. So obviously he was back in business in 1836.
This is one of a set of letters addressed to/from or concerning the family of Robert Simmey, Will Cameron and Helen Reid, which are in a separate folder on the website. Click on the links below to go to those letters.

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