Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 11 Feb 1771

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie				11th Feby 1771



Sir,

Inclosed you have paybills for Stanhope Burn Lead Mine Repairs of the Smelt Mill & Alston Moor Lead Mines as also by my Cash Account and an Acct of the Proffits of Stanhope Burn Lead Mine from Michs 1769 to Michs 1770. Greengill West End was let to Hush at Michs 1767 for the Term of 5 Years to seven Partners at £1.1 p Bing & in May 1768 they all gave up the Bargon Except one Joseph Winsgill so I hierd a Man to Join  in Partnership with Winskill in order to carry on the Hush, & after acquainting Mr Cleaver he agreed that the Man should be continued in Partnership with Winskill & the Proffits or Loss should be charged to the Company but it was thought right that the Man should be employed in my Name as thinking the Work would be better Carried on he has been a Joining Partner with Winsgill the Last Year so one half of the sums that are charged to Jos Winsgill & Partner in the Pay Bill are due to the Company after Payment of his Wages which is nine Shillings p Week. I have agreed with him to Continue Equall Partner with Winskill this Year. Proffit of Do. you have in the Account in Peatstack Hill Pay Bill from Michs 1768 to Michs 1769. Wm Accher is Charged for Payment of 20 Bings of Ore at 30/- p Bing but was only computed so kept £6 in my Hand till the Ore was delivered which was no more than 16 Bings so I am Dr. to the Company £6; we have opened the Boarhole Shaft & almost cleared the Sludge the Deeds out of Bacon’s Level shall begin laying the Waggon rails to Morrow. Expects to get the Level railed to the forehead against Lady Day and then intends imploying six Workmen in order to unwater Greengill West End as soon as the Weather will permit intends begining a Level to Discover Howblagill Vein &c you will see by the Accot there have been no Loss by Stanhope Burn Lead Mine Last year to there was £22 paid towards repairing the Law Level & am sorry to tell you it is my Opinion before that level is Compleatly repaired will cost near £100 more but unless that Level is repaired the Mine will be lost. I am in no doubt but should have raised as much Ore this year as would have paid the expence of repairing the above Level provided we could have worked the West End of the flat which raise most part of the Ore we got Last Year, but cannot work that part of the flat till the Level is repaired as the Ore Lyes in the Recihopeburn & the Water that is in that Burn must be put into the mine & so convaied down the Law Level before any Ore can be got at the West End flat the East End of Do. we are now working & raises Ore as well as can be expected at 32s 6d p Bing. The above Level had been lost by the Ground falling in for want of wood to suport it happened as I am informed sum years since notwithstanding the water got away till the last summer and as there is no repairing the Level where the Ground is fallen in are obliged to drive a Level in fresh Ground at £3.3 p fathom. I expected to have the Inspection of the Lead Mill in order to have known the produce of the Ore both in Lead & Silver as is common & necessary for all Lead Mine Agents to know but George Simpson who is Mill Agent told me that he was to make up that Account to Mr Ramshay at Naward. As is an artical to which Mr Ramshay has never been used; I cannot think him able to judge so well of the Produce of Lead & Silver made from the Ore as a Person who is intirely used to that kind of Business. I am informed by the Mill Agent that 201 Pieces of my Lord’s own Lead & 199 Pieces of Partnership Lead remains yet unsold. I think it very odd as it was all smelted before Christmas 1769 and most undoubtedly might have been at Markett & sold & Cash recd for it before Michs if that had been done would have had no occasion to draw on you to make the Pays I never had any direction to enquire into the above but thought Proper to acquaint you with it & may give such orders as you judge right in future besides the Stock of Lead there is 2 Bings of Peatstackhill Ore at the Mill & 130B.1C.1P.7S. of Ore Raised at Stanhope as in the Pay Bill & 14 Bings of Cutting Ore for which the Men are to be paid £7.7 pr Fother but could not be included in the Pay Bill till it be smelted. You will see by the Accounts I am Dr. to you £71.10.10¾ out of which I left with the Agent at Stanhope £50 towards supporting the Workmen their the rest is for support Money for the Workmen in Alston-moor, you will observe there is Nothing Charged in the Account for George Simpson the Agent at Stanhope the reason was he said it was never Enter’d in the Lead Mine or Mill Accounts but I think in future it should be divided between the Mine & the Mill & the takeing care off the Estate in such Proportions as you think Proper; there is some Recets wanting they were left at Stanhope. I expect them in a few Days when we will inclose them to you. Please to favour me with a line when you received this. My son desires his respectfull Compts to you.

								   I am &ca Jona. Hilton