Letter – James Mulcaster to John Mulcaster – 6 Sep 1744

To John Mulcaster Junior.  At Acton in Derwent.  To the Care of John Teasdale

Dear Brother

	This comes, hoping to find you in good health, as, thanks to God, I arriv’d here on the 4th Instant – The Wether, I understand, has not been less turbulent here than wth us; Scarse any thing having been done in the Mine Since I came away, because of ye great Rains that have faln; so that for any thing that, as yet, I See, I Shall have done a good while sooner than I expected wn I left you – there has only been 24 Bars of Lead made Since left the Place, and there is but little Ore about the Mill, and less at ye Mine, nor is there any likelyhood of much being raid’s this Season --- what Ore is about each Place, the Smelters will work up a very Short while, 20 Fothers of Lead being as much of (farthest) as can be made from it, after wch, they design to Set on a Slag hearth – So that Some time in November I’m likely to have done – If, as I expect it will, this finds you in Aldston Moor, I desire you will lead my Horse Home with you if he is able to walk, and if he grows Sound would have you to dispose of him as Soon as possible; and if it is needful to put him to grass, to keep him in good Condition till you have an Opportunity of Selling him, I desire you would procure it for him, and whatever Expence you are at I Shall reimburse at my Return – Let me have a Line from you as Soon as possible, that I may know how you all are, and if my Horse is recover’d, or like to recover - I would also have you to Set down in your Letters when you take off any Silver the weight the Cake, the day of the Month it was made, and the Quantity of Lead it was made from; or else keep it in a peice of Paper till I come home – I found, on my Return hither that the Smelters had begun to board themselves, and, for want of a better Way, I design to do So too – we are to pay 3s. a Week, and, at that Rate, will however live cheaper than we did the former part of Summer – I Shall Say nothing how I design to return at present, but Shall consider of Some way before the Time comes, and let you know – Pray give my Respects to my Parents, and Brothers, and to Mr. and Mrs Smith – wch is all at present (only I could wish you would continue your French War) from

      Your affectionate Brother   Jas. Mulcaster 



Wanlockhead Septembr. 6th 1744				

	

P.S. I design to give my Uncle a Guinea to pay Thos. Featherston for ye Loan of his Galloways, and Jo: Hetherington for my Horse’s Grass – the Remainder thereof I Shall order him to give you, and would have you ask him for it, if he forgets, -- my Father wants 8 or 9s. of me, and may perhaps need it before I return – I’m not yet begun to work, but designs to put Fire to a Test this Evening --