Letter – Edward Blackett to Jacob Peart – 30 Mar 1710

March 30

Honest Jacob 

      I Rec’d yours of the 29 and I desire that you’ll go into Weardale and Alston Moor as soon as possibly you can, and procure me all the budlers that are out of Employment both there and Allenheads, I wish you had spoken to Mr. Mowbray, for I know he could have supplyd you with some, I would willingly have a great many Employd for the sooner they are gone thro’ the <bett[e]r>. I perceive you have paid the Window sess which by Act of Parliament is due for the Ten[an]t always to pay, and if I have paid for it formerly in my own wrong they that farm the Land & live in the house must Repay me.

      I would be glad to hear that you had light of a Right Quarry for slates and if Cookley should prove would save a considerable sum of money for <leading>.

      As for a mark wch. you must sett upon my slagg Lead & that which is made out of the wast[e]s must be EB and halfe  a doz or a dozen Round Os, you may ord[e]r the hammer to be EB on the one side, and <a Round O> on the other,  for I would have that Lead Very distinguishable from the Rest, As for that Lead which the undertakers make must all have one Mark & brought to Newcastle together paying 1/5 part of the Carriage & 1/5 part of the cellar hire at Fallowfield Mill till there be a considerable Quantity, but as for what concerns the partn[er]s you may send it down as fast afterwards you need but write me once a Month. As soon as there’s very good weather I’d have you and Mewburne to go to Warksburne for you never did see the veins wch the Bailiff talks of. I can tell it to one or two Newcastle Merc[han]ts in case of I do not Work it my self, I was mightily surprised to see that the Pay should come to so prodigious a Sum considering so small a quantity of Lead made and suppose you gave them all £7.10 for 24cwt which you did not it would not come nigh to £1000 besides the Wood I am inform’d I might have sold for Above £100. So you have made me a Very fine <Sett>, I thought I could not possibly have lost in giving £7.10 a fother Especially for that weight, so I long to see the Pay to see how the Remainder of the money has been disburs’d, I thank God I am now quitt of Lead mines, and I shall think Very well before I be concerned again, before you Sett all the people at Worke that possibly you can gett Either for love or money to goe thro’ the Wasts, for shall not be at Ease till both they & the Slaggs be wrought out, As for the Lead Mine I heartily wish it may prove well for the Gentlemens Advantage, would be a great satisfaction to me to hear to did. 

      I am your Assured friend



Mr. Jac. Peart