A receipt for the sale of thirty bales of cotton sold on behalf of Aaron Spell, February 9, 1840.
This document and the preceding document are receipts for cotton sold on behalf of cotton planter Aaron Spell on two separate occasions, one before the panic, in 1836, and one during the panic, in 1840. The numbers in columns on this receipt represent the weight of each of the thirty bales of cotton. The total weight is then multiplied by the price paid per pound of cotton, in this case seven and a half cents per pound. The notes at the bottom of the receipt detail additional charges deducted from the total sale price, such as shipping, storage, insurance, and broker’s fees. This receipt also includes a short note to Mr. Spell added by the cotton broker, Mr. Mount.
Transcription:
Account Sales of 30 Bales Cotton received by Steamer Vicksburg, from Manchester, Miss from Charles & Mount Esqs. and sold for account and risk of Mr. Aaron Spell of Holmes County, Mississippi --
1840
Feb[[object Object]]y 3 Sold to Kohn, Daron & Co. [[object Object]] Schmidt and Holland, Brokers
A.S. 30 Bales, weighing
[[object Object]]
427
386
445
418
418
445
461
420
427
412
Sum of column 1: 4259
[[object Object]]
375
410
422
407
472
406
396
410
386
397
Sum of column 2: 4081
[[object Object]]
382
410
395
420
394
413
423
422
365
394
Sum of column 3: 4018
Total weight: 4259 [[object Object]] 4081 [[object Object]] 4018 [[object Object]] 12358 @ 7 ½ ¢ [[object Object]] $926.85
Charges
P[[object Object]]d Freight on above at $2 per Bale...$60
[[object Object]] River Insurance, valued $1200 @ 1% + pol: 75¢...12.75
[[object Object]] Weighing 10¢ per Bale...3.00
[[object Object]] Drayage @ 12½ ¢ [[object Object]]...3.75
[[object Object]] Brokerage for selling ¼% on $926.85...2.32 [[object Object]] 81.82
[[object Object]] $845.03
Errors Accepted, New Orleans, 4 Feb[[object Object]]y 1840
A.M. Nathan
[[object Object]]
Mr. A. Spell
1840 4 Feb[[object Object]]y
In Acct. With A.M. Nathan
By [[object Object]] of 30 Bl Cotton...$845.03
less paid [[object Object]] bill charges to C.E. Mount... 18.00
[[object Object]] $827.03
Eight hundred and twenty seven 03/100 Dollars
To his credit in acct.
New Orleans, 4th Feb[[object Object]]y 1840
A.M. Nathan
Dear Sir,
Have just returned from New Orleans and have seen Mr. Nathan who expects you to send him forty bales more, I assured him you would do all you could, and he has given me a regular power of attorney & I am fully authorised to give you any instruction you may [[object Object]].
You will see your cotton only sold for 7 ½ ¢, I sold mine at the same. It is still declining - if you have any in store let me know if any to send down, do it forth-with, as it will decline further. Do you know Mr. Coates’ intentions?
Sincerely y[[object Object]]r fr[[object Object]]d,
[[object Object]] Mount
[[object Object]] 9th Feb[[object Object]]y 1840
P.S. I enclose your [[object Object]] I paid [[object Object]] before I could get the cotton.
