Letter – Isaac Hunter to John Erasmus Blackett – 17 Oct 1781

J.E.Blackett Esqr. Newcastle				Dukesf[iel]d 17th Octobr 1781



Sir,

I am glad to find that the time you talked of at Allanh[ea]ds for the Agents coming for Subsistance will be before the Fairs that the Smelters usually get their Winter Beef at so that I need not trouble you till then – I do think that I cannot do with Less than 300£ - we have got a Set of Miners cutting the new Race who will be to be supplied – the quantity of Lead deliv[ere]d f[ro]m the Several Mills this Sum[m]er to Blaydon (as you see by the Month Acc[oun]ts w[hi]ch I sent to Mr Peart the other day) is 47,208 ps including 20 thousand of Refinable Lead, and as Common Ld is so much wanted at Markett shall not Smelt any refinable while we have of the Com[m]on Ore; therefore have agreed w[i]th Pringle that he shall carry all the Refinable Lead that shall be made at Rookhope Mill before the 31st Dec[embe[r deliv[e]r it atBlaydon on against the 12th of May next at the Sum[m]er price on having 60£ advanced at Mar[tinma]s to pay his rent with w[hi]ch eases the above demand to be so High; for I think it will be a means of helping the Refinery there w[i]th Lead in the Spring with out hindering the Com[m]on Lead being got early to Markett in case of a demand. am glad to hear you have so brisk an one now & at so good a price – Are doing what we can to get you com[m]on L[ea]d made & sent off at All the Mills but am afraid that Allanh[ea]d Mine will not be able to keep us with Ore while the Carriage is on, for when there last Monday I found that the Carriers had that day lifted all the washed Ore so do suppose we shall not be able to send to Markett this backend above 3000 ps more of Comm[on] L[ea]d including all the Mills.   I am

Sir Y[ou]r mo[st] Ob[edien]t & H[um]ble

Serv[an]t I Hunter