Cupar
July 6. 184⟨4⟩
Dear Sir
I am going to pu⟨t⟩ you to a little trouble which I know you are very fond of when it ⟨is⟩ to be of service to a frie⟨nd.⟩ I am wanting a few statistics connected wit⟨h⟩ the manufacture of Ga⟨s⟩ and where else can I g⟨o⟩ to for information: I ⟨am⟩ sure you will favo⟨ur⟩ me at your earliest convenience. Would y⟨ou⟩ state thus:— What is your distance from Co⟨al⟩— the price of your Coa⟨l⟩—the quantity of gas it yie⟨lds⟩ per ton:— The price per 1000 feet,— and the quantity you consume yearly? With information on these points, I would be able to form a correct idea of the mismanagement of the thing here. We are far nearer the coals here and yet the price of the Gas is far higher. At a meeting held here last week it was resolved to reduce the price from 11/- to 10/- per 1000. I am sure you would have held it down to 7/- long ere now. The profits realized are sa⟨id⟩ to be quite extravagant. What do your proprietors reckon a fair percent⟨age?⟩
I was sorry to hear of Walter Murray’s death. It is the way we have a⟨ll⟩ to go. I see the tear and w⟨ear⟩ of time is beginning to tel⟨l⟩ upon your own excelle⟨nt⟩ constitution. I am a long way behind you on the road of life and I too am beginning to feel symptoms of a down hi⟨ll⟩ course. However let us be thankful and impro⟨ve⟩ what remains. We ar⟨e⟩ all pretty well at pres⟨ent⟩ and I trust you and your family are all enjoying enduring health. I am glad at the near prospect of seeing you in Fife. I trust nothing will occur to prevent you this Season The weather has been fine for some time and I would be glad indeed to see you. Drop me a note at your convenience, and oblige me with the information required. With best respects ⟨to⟩ Minny and all the others | I am Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | ⟨Thomas Walker⟩
Please cite as “KEMP55,” in Ɛpsilon: The William Kemp Collection accessed on 11 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/epsilon-testbed/kemp/letters/KEMP55