Letter to Glasgow Merchant with Reference to the Slave Trade

DateJanuary 26 1762

Event TypeNarrative

DescriptionLetter from Dr. William Hunter to one of Mrs. Heatly's debtors discussing the insolvency of Mrs. Heatly because of the debts of Mr. Heatly's estate. Dr. Hunter discusses when he first became suspicious of Mr. Heatly's poor financial situation and discusses the inventorying of the Heatly estate to pay off some of these debts. Dr. Hunter cautions the debtors that if the bills of exchange were produced in local currency, they would rapidly depreciate in value. The letter also notes the high values people have been willing to pay for enslaved people in Guinea, and encourages the debtors to engage in a voyage to trade enslaved people in order to balance their portfolios.