Letter – John Smeaton to Peter Mulcaster – 26 Aug 1774

Mr Mulcaster                            			Hexham 26th August 1774



       We have reced yours of 24th inst and now take the first opportunity of acquainting you that you are to refine the whole Cake over again and certainly the Lead produced from the Litharge we saw put into the Reducing Furnace is the most proper to be used in this operation for the reasons you mention.  The Cake we would have Refined at twice so as to make two Cakes and when done sent to Newcastle as usual, but in two Boxes instead of one.

       From this circumstance of all the Litharge from the Silver Test proving Refineable we think you shd keep the whole which is in future produced from every Silver Test only in the doing of this you should keep it in two parcels the first of which will contain the Litharge produced from the beginning to Work the Silver Test til you suppose the Litharge is become so rich as to be worth Refining and the other that which is supposed to be clearly refineable as has hitherto been practised by which means it will be found out what further quantity of Litharge it will be necessary to save than what we now do, in every operation of taking off the Silver.

       You say nothing abt the last tryals you made in consequence of our last Letter one of which was going on in the Assay Furnace when Mr Ibbetson & Mr Walton saw you last from whence we are apprehensive some Letter has miscarried.     We are

               Your hble Servts

      W & S