Letter – Isaac Hunter to John Erasmus Blackett – 4 Feb 1782

J.E.Blackett Esqr. Newcastle				Dukesf[iel]d 4th Feb 1782



Sir,

I have made three Assays of the Newbiggin Ore, One f[ro]m the Round, another f[ro]m Round & Small mix[e]d the other f[ro]m the Small and find, taking the medium of these three Assays would require 5 Bings nearly to make a Fod[der] or 21 Cwt of Lead. I do suppose that the Ore I got was the best then at the Bank, so that one cannot expect to get a quantity to yield equal to it, but I think we might venture to calculate it’s produce of Lead f[ro]m the yield of ye[the ] Small w[hi]ch will take 5 Bings  & 5/8 to the Fod



To 5 5/8 at £3/15s p Bing (the price sold at) 21  1 10 1/2

To Exp.s Carriage &c                             18  6

To Ref[iner]y & Returning                            8

To Carriage to Blaydon                           10  7 1/2	

                                              22 19 --

Cr

By 30 oz of Silver @ 6s       9 -- --

By L. Lead 1/15 L of it      15 17  4         24 17  4



                             Gain[e]d          1 18  4



by the above calculation there can be no risk in giving the present price in case Lead does not drop before its got to Markett: as there’s a reporting in the Country that Sir Tho[ma]s Blackett’s for buying that Ore, will require great caution to come at it at a reasonable pr[ice] for I desay [dare say] if the L[ea]d Co[mpany] knows that S[i]r Tho[ma]s bids that they will put it above &c.  As I got no subsistence at C[hrist]mas will be obliged to have 200£ when the other agents are down on the 18th for I have promised several of the Ore Carrier they should have Cash to pay the Wintering of their Galloways