Letter – Francis Pewterer to Charles Whitaker – 14 Apr 1732

      Auckland Castle April 14th 1732

Dr. Sr. 

Last Tuesday I waited upon Mr. Hutchinson at Barnard Castle, who is not nor has been well all the last winter. Some day the next week he will send his Agent to view the mines in Weardale, to see what distance they are one from another, as also to see what sort of Ore they work, because some sort is better than another by tenn Shillings in a Bing. & then will give me an Answer with his Proposals in writing, wch Answer I will transmit to you, & after that will give him another meeting. If my Lord & He can Agree, He will buy them for One Year, & if he makes a Safe <Salt> he will then take them for a longer time. He says a man must be employed to give daily attendance, to see that the <Worse> Ore is not mix’d with the Bad, wch man may deserve £25 or £30 per ann, but he will treat in undertaking all. He also says there is no great hast in doing this. I am to meet Mr Mowbray at Durham to morrow, & shal hear what more he says about it, but he cares not to meddle in this affair, considering the owner. He will be willing to give any directions for the managing of it, but no otherwise. If it shou’d be agreed, that my Lord must find a man; no fitter Person can be, than Mr Joseph Hall, the present Bailiff of the Customary Rents in Weardale. He was born there, & has liv’d all his time amongst them. He, nor any other for that purpose, need not be trusted wth Receiving any money, only his Honesty & Diligence is requir’d.  no more can be said at present by Dr. Sr.

      Yrs affectionately F. Pewterer 





[on left side of reverse:] To Mr. Whitaker

[on right side of reverse, in a different hand, presumably Whitaker’s:]

14 April 1732

That Mr Hutchinson of Barnard Castle would view and Report of Weardale Lead Mines.