Letter – Isaac Hunter to Thomas Smith – 14 Jul 1777

      Dukesf’d. 14 July 1777

Mr Thos. Smith Rookhope Mill



Dr Sir

      Seeing Thos. Purvis pass by here this evening between 4 & 5 O’Clock from getting his Week’s Work, has made me take the following resolutions (for I have long thought of the impropriety in suffering the smelters to do in 2 ½ Days what should have taken 5) which I desire that you’ll take care to have fully performed, that none stand longer at a shift then 6 or 7 Hours (ie) they change regularly at each Hearth every 6 Hours and that there may be the same No. (of smelters) at each Hearth. You may set on Mr Dixon & Bell the server till all Sir Jno Trevelyan’s ore be smelted, but you must tell them when you set them on that they will have to turn of[f] them that they may not think it a hardship when the time comes to quit – I do suppose that they will find it difficult to get all their Work as above, but they may follow in a little closer (ie) not let the Hearth be so long off at Nights, for they cannot well make hot Lead without being very negligent, and you must when you see a Hearth making too hot Lead make them draw her immediately  - set Collingwood to serve the Slag Hearth while Bells at the Ore Hearth

      & am Yrs &c   IH:Jr



PS pray have the things that will be wanted for this year at the mill from Newcastle set down against I come next week – hasten those Wainmen that has Lead in their hands to get it to Blaydon.