Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 24 Feb 1773

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie 				24 Feby. 1773



Sir,

      I have now Settled accounts with Mr Ramshay & delivered to him Pay Bills of the several Lead Mines where my Lord Carlisle is concerned as also Pay Bills of the Expence of Smelting Refining &c with the Produce of Lead & Silver made from the Ore Raised at Stanhope Burn from Michs 1771 to Michs 1772 the Law Level at Stanhopeburn was compleated in December Last and we are now making convenience in order to try the Veins in fresh Ground the Flats at Stanhope are now very Poor & by Appearances are nearly worked out so that there’s no hopes of raising much Ore at Stanhope Burn this Year. When I wrot you in Jany 1772 I then Expected to have got the Level up to Greengill West End & a Tryal made of the Veins by that Time but the Old Mans borehole not being large enough for the Water Blast I was Oblig’d to bore another hole at the Expence of £32.8 Exclusive of Candles &c as you will see in the Pay Bill by driving the Level the came several Strings from the Old Vein which Strings crossed the Level & went Northwestwards so at 40 Fathoms west of where these strings crossed the level, I thought Necessary to cut a cross cut of the Level in order to try if the above strings would come together and form in one Vein which they did at about 14 Fathom North of the Old Vein & 10 Fathom North of the Present Level this North Vein has a promising appearance in the Plate beed but cannot be tried in the Sill till the Level is up & as the Sills are all whole in that Vein the Prospect is much better than the Boaring for the Water Blast & cutting to the North Vein kept the Workmen of pursuing the Level 18 Weeks otherwise should have had the Level up & Tryals made of the Vein by this June but as there is only 20 Fathom of the Level now to drive & hops we shall meet with no misfortune in the way I Expect getting the Level up & Tryals made in the Veins by the Latter end of June next.

      Howblagill cut the sun Vein in the Plate beed July last but the Sills were not then put on the Level is now up to where the Sills are on and as soon as a Shaft that we are now sinking be sunk into the Level I intend cutting out of the Level to boath Veins & trying them in the Sills this I expect will be done about the Time Mentioned at Greengill West End.

      I am &c Jona Hilton



P. the Pays at Greengill West End & Howblagill were Latter this year than Intended on accot of want of Cash from Mr. Cleavers Share his Money did not come hear till the 22 January Last.