Letter – Cuthbert Peart to Isaac Hunter – 17 Nov 1784

Mr Isaac Hunter                                                                   Newcastle      Novemr 17th 1784

     Dukesfield



Sir

	As there is now a large Quantity of Litharge Slags at Blaydon Mr Blackett has it under Consideration whether to dispose of them at 30s a Ton, a Price offered him, or to have them wrought up at Dukesfield so you will please to let us know in what manner you manage your Slags so as to obtain the Lead contained in them.  Whether you run them up in the Slag Hearth in the State they come from the reducing Furnace, or put them through the Stamp Mill, wash them & then smelt up the washings.  for Experiments sake lay to one side a Parcel of Litharge Slags, the Course of one Weeks Workings, observing the Quantity of refin’d Lead made on producing such Parcel of Slag.  Note the Weight & then work it up either in the Stamp Mill or Slag Hearth with a proper flux of the poorest black Slag that can be got.  The Slags produced should then be followed & all the Lead got from them added to what was got at the first Opperation.  This is submitted to your Consideration about which you will please to write to Mr Blackett.                                I am etc  C Peart

Your Plate of Silver came safe Containing 1130 Ounces