Letter – Isaac Hunter to John Erasmus Blackett – 20 Jul 1776

       Dukesfield 20th. July 1776

Jn E Blackett Esqr. Newcastle



Sir

       By Mondays Carrier you’ll receive a plate of Silver as p[er] inclosed Accot.   Rookhope Mill was set on Fire last Tuesday morning but Fortunately it was discovered soon or the whole Building would have been Burnt down the damage don I think will not exceed 6 or 8 £ but will hinder us a little in Smelting as it lays of[f] one of the Hearths – have set on Workmen to get it repaired as soon as possible.   How it happened cannot say it began among the Peats that was got in to the Mill for Smelting & think a spark of Fire must have gon f’m the Hearth when they were taking the Fire out of Her – others think that it had been set on Fire intentionally ; tho there’s little cause for that Suspicion, than that the Smelters that left the Mill last are very steady & carefull Men and that the Clerk was in the Mill an Hour or more after they left Her, and that He left a Man getting in Peats who stayed a good while after him and that neither of them perceived the least smoke when they left the Mill.   I have ordered 2 Men to attend Her the Nights till she’s made secure (wch. I expect will be in a Weeks time) for we are sure that there’s Idle People frequents Her to steal Firing.   

       I was at the meetg. in Gateside last Monday.   Mr. Askew & part of the People of Gateside attended & gave their Consents to accommodate the Road as to Ground as much as in their Power.   Old Mr. Walton & Mr. Leighton were there & seemed to have little doubt but that both Ld. Ravenworth and Ld Strathmore would comply wth. the requests of the Subscribers in regard to the Ground the Road is to go through – the Bridge was not let but  reserved  to a future day (Tuesday in the Assize Week) for the Gentlemen by the advice of Mr. Smeaton agreed to lower the elevation & make the ascent on to the Bridge easer, so the Proposers had their Plans return’d to make the sade alterations against the meeting when the Road is to be finally settled as to the Way it is to go; there was two ways proposed for the Branch to the Lead Way wch. is to be viewed by a part of Gentlemen before the Meetg. wch. seem’d to be the only part of the Road that was not then fixed the Way it was to go – the Gates & Toll was never spoak off.   Sir Thos: Clavering desired that I would acquaint Sr. Walter that they were in hopes that He would favour them wth. his Subscription & consent as a Lord of Winlinton against their next meetg.  I expect to get the Plan for Sr. Walter in a few days time & then shall send it wth. as particular Accot. of the Roads as I can give.   I have got a few Assays of Lead by me & shall indeavour to have the whole against the Assize Week & if its thought that I should attend that meetg. of the Road shall bring them down wth. me & am 

       Sir yr: mo Huble Servt.

       IH:Jr: