Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 24 Jan 1774

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie 				Alston 24th Jany 1774



Sir,

Your Favour of the 14th Instant came in course which gives me no small concern I wrote you the 17th Novr Last that Mr Atkinson had sold all my Lords Lead which was to be paid for on the 18th December at which Time I ment to be at Newcastle to settle with him & at the same Time would take the Liberty to draw on you for the Cash that would be wanted to make the several Pays & in that Letter give you the agreeable account of the prospect we have at Stanhope Lead Mine & on the 23rd Decemr I wrot you of our Cutting one of the Veins at Greengill West End which Vein was Exceeding good & still continues & I am in hops will; in that Letter wrote you that I expect to have been in NewCastle at that Time to have drawn on you as above but had recd a Letter from the Gentleman that Bought the Lead that it was not convenient for him to pay at that Time so had Postponded my Journey till the beginning of Jany if I had had Notice at the rect of Either of the above Letters I would have put of making one of the Pays A Month or Six Weeks longer but both these Letters came under cover to my Lord the sum I have drawn for is no more than what was Necessary as you will see when I have settled with Mr Ramshay the Quantity of Lead we had unsold Christmas 1772 was small & have only raised 37 Bings of Ore from Michs 1772 to Michs 1773 & we only Pay till Michs & has the Workmen no support with Cash till next Pay & my Lord has now at Stanhope & in Alston moor 48 Workmen which Gets 10/6 a Month Each Man & if the Mines turns out as they are likly to do hope he will imploy Double the Number in Six Months I do assure you I never wanted to have more of my Lords Money in Hand than what was Necessary to support his Workmen but have often been £60 & sometimes £100 in advance.

Settled						I am &c Jona Hilton