John Wells letter to Thomas Rotch, Hartford, 1 mo. 27 1819

              B-206-7
page 1

                            Hartford 1st Mo 27 1819
Dear Friend
                 Before the rect of this, thou wilt probably receive two letters from me, now on their way.  The one from A Armstrong I forgot to enclose, as proposed.
              I have been thinking for several days of writing to thee, as letter a letter unmixed with pecuniary concerns. I now more at leisure, than I have been for considerable time, owing in part to not being able at present to obtain a casting of an iron printing press. When not engaged in my Ink & paint business, I have for two or three years applied myself to the making of these. the power is obtained by levers endwise upon the principle of the Oil Mill press. I first borrowed an old press and made trial of it, the owners paid me all the expense. I have made six new ones, with wooden frames, selling them from 200 to 250 each improving as experience and observation pointed to the parts requiring it. Marking the patterns required considerable time. From there I procured castings in this City. at a new [illegible] I have lately finished one, which was previously sold, and has gone to Augusta, price 350. The plattens are of cast iron, which [illegible] in a saith. The presses are said to be the best in the country & by those who are qualified to judge of their comparative value, have more begun and hurried for one of them. I have, for several years, laborred hard, have seldom had an hour, when I had nothing to do and perhaps have not spent an hour idly.  My sales of Ink have been considerable, the profi on it, is satisfactory. I have an excellent place for making black, in which I keep on old man, sell some of this to a profit. grind considerable paint, and make some Oil, have now [illegible] by me, at 2.25, very scarce in this country. [illegible] about 1/6 of the Milk & west of E Babcocks paid L 25 dol I have considerable scattered extensively over the country in Ink, & due for it. Have probably about as much due me in this City, as I owe.