L287,640

No. 2.

LETTER FROM MR. GILBERT BARKLY.

Gentlemen:

I take the liberty to enclose for your consideration a
memorial, regarding the establishment of a branch from the
East India house in one of the principal cities in North
America. Should the design meet with your approbation, as I
am well acquainted with the teas most saleable in that
country, shall be extremely happy in giving you every
information in my power, I have the honor to be with due
esteem, gentlemen,

Your most obedt. & very humble servant,

GILB'T BARKLY.
Lombard Street,
26th May, 1773.

TO THE HON'BLE THE COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST INDIA
COMPANY.

MEMORIAL.

_The Memorial of Gilbert Barkly, merchant, in Philadelphia,
in North America, who resided there upwards of sixteen
years, and who is well acquainted with the consumption of
that country, particularly in the article of Teas, &c._

Humbly proposes. In order to put a final stop to that
destructive trade of smuggling:

That the Company should open a chamber in one of the
principal, & central cities, of North America, under the
direction of managers, and that an assortment of teas from
England should be lodged in warehouses, and sales to
commence quarterly upon the same terms & conditions as those
in London.

By this means the merchants and grocers from the Southern
and Northern Provinces will attend the sales and purchase
according to their abilities. The goods thus brought from
home to them, and sold cheaper than they can be smuggled
from foreigners, the buyers will be bound by interest, and
think no more of running that risk, to which may be added
that they have them when paid for, immediately, for whereas,
when commissioned from abroad, they generally wait six
months before the receipt of them.

This country is now become an object of the highest
consequence, peopled by about three millions of inhabitants,
one third of whom, at a moderate computation, drink tea
twice a day, which third part, reckoning to each person one
fourth part of an ounce pr day, makes the yearly consumption
of 5,703,125 lbs. This quantity, at the medium price of 2s.
6d. pr lb., amounts to L712,890 2