The Earle family : Ralph Earle and his descendants

APPENDIX. 451
Under date of Dec. 14, 1789, Pliny Earle's brother Silas wrote to
his brother Jonah, who was then in New York city, as follows
" Pliny is going to set oft' for Providence, day after to-morrow
morning, to put on long cards on to Almy & Brown's machine."
From a memoir of Moses Brown in The New England Magazine
for July, 1SS7, p. 39:
"Slater arrived in New York, November 11, 1789; entered the
employment of a New York company, and in two weeks was dis-
satisfied. He had thought of going to Philadelphia. A captain of a
Providence packet informed him of Moses Brown, and advised him
to write to him, which he did, as follows :
—
" New York, December 2, 1789.
Sir :—A few days ago I was informed that you wanted a manager
of cotton spinning, etc., etc. I have had opportunity, and an over-
sight, of Sir Richard Arkwright's works, and in Mr. Strutt's mill
upwards of eight years. * * * If you please to drop a line
respecting the amount of encouragement you wish to give, by favor
of Captain Brown, you will much oblige Sir, your most obedient
humble servant,
SAMUEL SLATER.
N. B. Please to direct me at No. 37 Golden Hill, New York.
Mr. Brown, Providence."
The answer is as follows :
—
"Providence, 10 th , 12 th month, 17S9.
Friend,—I received thine of 2 d inst., and observe its contents. I
or rather Almy & Brown, who has the business in the cotton line
which I begun, one being my son-in-law, and the other a Kinsman,
want the assistance of a person skilled in the frame or water spinning.
An experiment has been made which failed. * * *
If thy present situation does not come up to what thou wishest,
and from thy knowledge of the business, can be ascertained of the
advantages of the mills so as to induce thee to come and work ours
: