Letter – Henry Richmond to Thomas Maughan – 6 Jul 1763

To Mr Thomas Maughan at                                                       Newcastle 6th July 1763               

Newhouse in Weardale



Sir/ Not knowing I sho[ul]d see Mr C. Hunter today I sent you a Lre by Robt. Loftus who promised to forw[ar]d it to you by a safe hand. It was to the following effect. To desire you wo[ul]d enquire & let me know w[ha]t mines there are in the 2 parishes of Stanhope & Wolsingham wch do n[o]t belong to the B[isho]p for Sir Walter wants to change a Life & we can[no]t agree upon the the value of the Lead Ore. Sir Walter has offered to be concluded by Alston Moor dues but the B[isho]p will have the value fix[e]d by a price wch he says has been given for Ore sold in the 2 parishes fm the freehold mines during the 13 yrs ending 31st Decr last wch Ore he says was said to be smelted into Lead for the new market, but he wont tell us the names of the Groves or the prices, therefore, you must enquire as well as you can perhaps the Clerk at L[or]d Carlisles Mill can direct you in your enquiry. I should be glad to have an answer as soon as possible.  

If there sho[ul]d appear to you any material objection to Sir W[alte]rs being concluded by the prices of such small sales of Ore, you will be so good as inform me of it. Or if the Ore of any of these veins is of a much better quality than the gen[eral] run of Weardale Ore, you will let me know it. I am etc   HR