London
Pine Apple Place
2 June 1853
Sir
We beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours and enclosing half cheque<1> for the amt of our a/c of £12·2·6 for which a stamped Receipt shall be forwarded on the arrival of the corresponding half
We much regret that offence should be taken at our application as such was not intended but being obliged to collect in all the outstanding a/cs due to the old firm <2> we were compelled to write in a peremptory tone.
We fear a mistake has been made in saying that no statement has ever been rendered of the a/c and also in affirming that no previous application had been made for payment as we find by our Travellers Journey Book that in Octr 1852 Mr Wooster (our Traveller) had the honor of calling at Locock abbey [sic] and then rendered a statement and was promised that a Cheque should be transmitted for the amount
Awaiting the arrival of second half of Cheque
We beg to remain Sir Your most obedt. Servts.
Arthur Henderson & Co
H. F. Talbot Esq
Notes:
1. It was a common security measure to send half a cheque or half a banknote in one letter and the second half in another. This removed any incentive for the courier or postman to steal the contents of one letter. In more modern times, this same approach is sometimes used in emails, spreading any sensitive information over more than one email in order to reduce the risk from interception.
2. John Andrew Henderson & Co, florists, Pine Apple Pl, London