Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 15 Nov 1771

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie				 15th Novr. 1771



Sir,

I am realey sorey to say this is the fourth Letter since I had a single Line from you indeed I thought the first might Probly have miscarried tho we seldom have any Instance of that but I cannot imagine why I receive no Answer to any I realey expected my Letters would have meet with better reception I hope however to have this immediately Answered on the other side you have an Account of Cash wanted to make the Pays at Michs Last & as it was always usual before Last Year to make those Pays in December & that’s a Time of the Year the Workmen expects their Wagges I must Desire you to give me Directions on whom I am to draw for the Amount I beg this be done the verey first conveniant opportunity their is now lying at NewCastle 240 Pieces of Lead unsold and as latley sold at £17 per Fother I took the Liberty to desire Mr Atkinson to dispose of it in order that the Cash might be got to make the Pays his Answer now Lays before me wherein he says none of the Buyers will at present give more than £16.10 p Fodder & desires my advice whither or no he must sell at that rate I did not think proper to Answer his till I acquainted you with it as you may know the probability of the rising or falling of the Lead Markets better than me the above 240 Pieces of Lead was Smelted from Ore raised before Michs 1770 Excepting a small quantity of Bought Ore & might have been got to Market & sold in September or the begining of October Last & if I had had any Directions about the Lead I most certainly would have recommended the selling it at that Time but as I never was desired by you to take any Notice nor did I know how the affair stood till the 4th Instant when I was at Stanhope settling account with Simpson Relating the Lead Mine & Smelt Mill & then immediately took the said Liberty to writ Mr Atkinson which hope will aprove indeed I have always desired the Lead might be got to Market & sold as soon after as possable Especially when it sells so well your immediate answer will much oblige your 

						 		Jona Hilton



P.S. You see below that there is £478.5.6¾ wanted to make the several Pays & as it will be Necessary to have about £70 in Hand to support the Workmen after the Pay then will be wanted £550 or if you order the Lead to be sold so as the Cash can be had before the Pay I shall want the Ballance between £550 & the Amount of the Lead sold the Ore raised at Stanhope from Michaelmass 1770 to Michaelmass 1771 will I expect be Smelted at or before Christmas next but cannot be got to Market before next may or June on Account of the Roads.



Lord Carlisle 3/4 of Expence at Sundry Tryals in Alston Moor £330  0  0

Stanhope Lead Mine Smelt Mill &c Pays                         560

Ore Bought & Carriage of Do.                                  137  1  4 1/2

                                                            £1027  1  4 1/2	

Rec’d by Simpson for Lead & Silver sold       £594  6  9 1/2  

Paid by Do for Sundry repairs at Stan. Estate  227  1 10 1/2

Ballance in Simpsons Hand                      367  4 11

Ballance in my Hand after last Pay              71 10 10 3/4	

Rec’d of Mr Ramshay                            110          £ 548 15  9 3/4 

                                                            £ 478  5  6 3/4