Dear George.

I think this is what we have both been looking for....................

** In 1811, the City's commodity traders, dealing mainly in colonial
produce, erected by subscription the London Commercial Sale Rooms, aiming
thereby to rival the coffee houses by providing a complete market for the
sale of sugar, cotton, coffee, tobacco, indigo and other imported goods. The
new building was in Mincing Lane and the front part comprised 'a magnificent
coffee-room' on the ground floor and two public salerooms above, the back
part counting houses on the lower floors and five showrooms above. **
...and...
** ..., later in the day, the produce brokers of Mincing Lane would be
selling by auction in the Commercial Sale Rooms their 'foreign and colonial'
produce of tea, sugar, coffee, spices and the rest, with up to 150 potential
bidders 'all armed with catalogues and pens' **
...and...
in 1845 the concern of Trueman & Cook was described as, ** ..... the leading
colonial broking house in Mincing Lane:  Such is the extent of their
operations, that it is said, they dispose of produce of the worth of several
millions of money in the course of the year. They are general brokers, and
do not, like other firms, confine their attention to one special article;
they sell largely of sugar, coffee, spices, indigo, etc, upon which they
take a commission, which is their remuneration.**

...[from: "The City of London, vol 1, A World of its Own, 1815-1890" by
David Kynaston, pub.Chatto & Windus Ltd, 1994. ISBN 0 7011 6094 2.


Hope of use.
Best wishes.
Bryan.

Bryan Mawer, Wellingborough, UK [bryan@mawer.clara.co.uk]
Sugar Refiners & Sugarbakers Database - www.mawer.clara.net

sent: Sat 19/05/2001 20:38