Letter to Cloth Magnate John Slater, Complaining of the Business Slump That Followed the War of 1812, Offering an Early Mention of the Term "Factory Goods", and Pleading With Slater for Assistance and Advice

ALS. John was the brother of Samuel Slater, the founder of the American cotton industry. Like Samuel, John Slater emigrated from England around 1804, and brought with him the secret knowledge of yarn and cloth manufacturing. He eventually set up an enormously successful manufacturing concern with his brother in Smithfield (later Slatersville), Rhode Island, and East Webster, Massachusetts. Letter. 2pg. 15" x 9 ½". March 23, 1815. Boston. This letter, from the firm of "Leach & Morrison" in Boston, was addressed to "John Slater" and sought his advice on the sales slump after the War of 1812. With emphasis added in bold, the letter reads: "Your favour under date of the 13th just came to hand yesterday & contents noticed. We are sorrow that it is not in our power at present to pay Mr Meston, as he wants his money soon and all of it at one payment. Business has been so very dull (& continues so) that we have sold very few goods,... - sale & little at retail some days we... five dollars & we reckon it great doings now a days to take fifty dollars - and outstanding debts are not to be calculated upon - If Factory Goods are going to be as unsalable for the future as they have been since the peace, they will not be worth attending to, unless you can afford them considerably lower & even then we think Ginghams will be unsalable. We should like to know your oppinion [sic] respecting factory goods, whether in case they will not sell at present prices you can afford them at such prices as they will command. Provided you cannot do better, we think if you could send us a note that could be discounted at Bank, we would endorse it and endeavour to get it discounted for you. This is the only mode that we can devise at present to raise the amount (say $2000) as soon as Mr Meston will want it. We shall be happy if we can contribute in any way to raise this money by any way that you can devise. We are truly sorrow for the loss you have Sustained in your family of so promising a child & hope it will abundantly sanctified to you & the remainder of your family - We anticipate that we shall soon see you in Boston... We are Sir your Frds & Servts Leach & Morrison". There is an ink note on the address page "Care of Messrs Almy & Brown Providence". Almy and Brown were Providence textile manufacturers in Smithfield, and the firm of Almy, Brown and Slater owned and managed the factory. The letter has a number of small rips and tears that have been professionally repaired. Near the central vertical fold, there is a 1 ½" x 1 inch hole that has removed the parts of the text noted as missing above, perhaps a total of five or six words. There is also a hole at the left margin and the bottom right corner that do not affect the text. Regardless of these few flaws, however, this is a tremendously interesting letter from early American business history