Letters from Sydney merchants Riley & Walker relating to the importation of Madeira wine, 1825-1829

MLMSS 9874

fonds

1825-1829

1001601

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript, printed

Jones & Riley were the first general merchants in Sydney, beginning business in 1815. In 1819 Governor Macquarie complained that they were the only merchants in New South Wales and felt that the order prohibiting convict ships from carrying merchandise made the colony unduly dependent on the goods imported by Jones & Riley, 'our solitary mercantile firm', and that 'this sordid Rapacious House' had consequently raised their prices by 100 per cent. In 1820 William Walker joined the company which was thenceforth known as Jones, Riley & Walker and in 1823 Jones retired from the firm which was then known as Riley & Walker.
Newton, Gordon, Murdoch & Scott was a Madeira based merchant firm responsible for exporting wine during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/ (accessed 6 October 2016)
William L. Clements Library Manuscripts Division Finding Aids. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-2885.1new?view=text (accessed 6 October 2016)

Purchased by the vendor from another dealer at a small book fair.

The collection comprises business letters and related documents received by the Madeira merchant firm Newton, Gordon, Murdoch and Scott, from Sydney merchants Riley & Walker, relating to the early importation of Madeira wine to purchasers in Sydney.

1. Manuscript letter from Riley & Walker to wine merchants Newton, Gordon, Murdoch & Scott in Madeira, 21 March 1825. The letter acknowledges receipt of a shipment of wine, noting that much of it remains in their stores, due to their customers’ general preference for wine of a lower price and quality than true Madeira wine.

2. Manuscript copy of Item 1, with accompanying letter regarding the proceeds of the sale of wine, 23 May 1825

3. Account sales of Madeira wine, signed Jones & Walker, 31 September 1825

4. Manuscript letter acknowledging receipt of a further shipment, signed Jones & Walker, 22 May 1827

5. Account sales of Madeira wine (marked as duplicate), signed Jones & Walker, 29 August 1828

6. Printed notice with manuscript additions, advising of the dissolution of the partnership of Jones & Walker, addressed to Thomas Murdoch of London, 30 June 1829

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed