Arthur Dixon letters

about which we have had a talk. The reserved bid upon the coppers – surely Mr Cotman cannot know & it cannot have occurred to you that the auctioneers per-centage will have to be paid whether they sell or not, & that making a reserve bid of two pounds you incur a certain loss of about thirty pounds. This Edmund is aware of, but when we urged his Fathers being acquainted with it, to the alteration of that determination he said his Father must know that. Now would it not be better to inform the person that Mr Cotman is determined they shall not go under £2, & as there is hardly a shade of probability (at least not £30s worth) that any body else will buy them, to [enter i - crossed out] negotiate with him above board & so that he may communicate by letter with his agent here on Friday which allows time, & Edmund can explain to Spelman, or Cotman can write to the auctioneer any other plan. [Or because Spelman can easily ask in the room whether any one demands the coppers to be offered for sale, with - crossed out]
Besides I think if it were shewn to Spelman, your fathers altered mind respecting them he would easily set it all right with this man who is after them. Nevertheless from what I hear