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MONTSERRAT

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A Deal Ship Letter
from Montserrat dated 21
July 1773 which
describes the purchase of
an estate on Mount
Anthony and negroes for
£7387 6s 7d
together with a plea to his
brother, Sir Robert
Anstruther, for help in·
paying for it.
According the 2005
House of Comons
research paper on the
value of the pound this is
equivalent to a sum of
· some £1 ,500,000 today

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Dear Brother,
I wrote to you a few lines about ten days ago by the ship Ottley for London ... You are no stranger to the
distresses which too many have been put to, on account of the failures at home, we have felt our part as will
appear by this settled account sent you by Mr Gordon, therein we fall short of the original stock no less a
sum than £1577.11.6 currency each partner the 1/i of which is £788.15.9 at 65 per cent is £475 or therea-
bouts. This i!; a heavy sum & at once swallows me up unless your kind assistance keeps me out of the gulf.
I formerly wrote you that by advice of Mr Gordon I had become joint purchaser with Anthony Gordon of the
estate and negroes Mount Anthony, the amount of which £7387. 6s 7d is to our debit with AG & Co. Our
accounts against the Partnership & the remainder of stock for which we have er reduces that to £3440 ... This
Balance I know not how to discharge & much less how to settle your account, unless Anthony and I sell the
Estate, which if we do, God only knows what we can do next ..... you may depend no improper use shall be
made of the money, the scarcity of which in this country makes us look at it twice as the saying is before we
part with it.
Anthony, Bob and myself embark for Dominica this night. If I cannot get away 1 st August you will hear from
me again, if I do sail at that time, tis to be hoped soon to have the pleasure of taking you by the hand.
Compts to all friends and believe me
Dear Sir Your afft Brother
Montserrat 21st July 1773
To CA , British Coffee House London