[ Thomas Herbert Maddock ] Autograph Letter Signed "T H Maddock" to "Gladstone", presumably John Gladstone, merchant, politician, father of W.E. Gladstone.

Four pages, 12mo, good condition. "I have just received from Ceylon a formal evaluation of my coffee property. The sums stated ampount to £8471 & as there is upwards of 800 acres of uncleared forest which is valued at £2 peracre the whole amount will be upwards of £10,000. I send the paper in hopes it may enable your froiend [...] to effect a sale. His correspondent from Ceylon has enclosed a report "made by a Mr Simon Keir and Mr. George Hamilton Dundas" [Keir, Dundas & Co. were the "largest agency house" in Ceylon c.1850s"] He continues, " The sender of the Report is quoted as saying, "I would still strongly advise that you put up the whole place to auction, make the time of payment easy, and surely you will get this low estimation value". Maddock then discusses the possibilites for the nauture of the sale (instalments, half shares etc), "but I should prefer washing my hands of the troublesome speculator altogether and would only consent to a parnership with any one for the sake of the advantage of placing the management in the hands of one interested in the prosperity of the whole concern. | The expenses are now so much reduced that I trust if I am compelled to keep this property and no peculair misfortune happens next season like the deficiency of coolies last year and a visitation of the Bug this year that it will yield a considerable income. The field that suffered most from bug is said now to be showing a prospect of 100 bushels an acre." He asks to be referred to anyone who might help when he arrives in London." Note: Wikipedia describes this period as a golden age of investment and profit, etc, peaking in 1870.