Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 7 Sep 1774

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie 				Alston 7th Sept 1774



Sir,

      Shewed you a Copy of a Proposal for a Vein cut in Howblagill when I see you last at Naward which have been shewn to the Commissioners & excepted I have since got Mr Ramshay on behalf of the Earl of Carlisle & Mr John Cleaver to sign a Proposal for a Vein to be called by the Name of Greengill Moss which is the Vein we have got all the Ore in that we have hitherto raised that lies North of Greengill West End but is yet within the Limits of that Vein as there is 40 Yards granted on each Side of every Vein it would go by the Name of Greengill West End till it be without the above Limitts by Driving 80 Yds further west then where we are now working it will be then called Greengill Moss Vein I also intend geting Mr Ramshay to seign a proposal requesting the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to grant a Lease to my Lord & Mr Cleaver to take a Level under the great Limestone in order to make Tryal in the above Vein called Greengill Moss near the West End of the Lease which will be 200 Yards West of where we are now working as also for all the Veins that may be cut by driving the above Level. I expect to cut one or two Veins besides Greengill Moss Vein. As you have often been so obligeing as say you would refer the entire Management of the Lead Mine Works to me & be ruled by my Opinion in giving in Proposals for such new Veins as I should think Necessary I have taken upon me to get Mr Ramshay to give in the above mentioned Proposals which I hope you will aprove especially as I do assure you they were absolutely Necessary however I shall be much Obliged to you for your approbation of it in your next. I acquainted Mr Cleaver with what has been done and he both by Letter & in personal conversation approved of what had been done & Intirely left the entering into fresh Works to my Direction. There has been no Tryall made in Greengill West End Vein further than Endeavouring to drain the Old Man’s Works which has & is likely to be attended by a Large expence & great Danger to the Workmen by loosing such great Quantitys of Water but thank God none of the Men have suffered much yet further than by fear the Mine continues pretty good & Promising I expect by Michas we shall have raised upwards of 900 Bings of Ore which Ore I expect will all be worked & taken away from the Mine by the Latter End of October. And then will give you an Exact Account relating the Mines both at Stanhope & at Alston Moor Howblagill Works are going on but must not Expect a Tryal of that Vein for some Time yet.

      I was at Stanhope the first Instant we have Latly two fresh Vein both gets Ore as well as could be expected the Smelting now goes on very well but Having no Old Peats & the Summer being so very weet put us long of As the works of Lord Carlisle both in the Mines and Smelting are now of very great Consequence I think it most absolutely Necessary you should be at Stanhope as soon as you possabley can it would most certainly would be Right for you both to be Hear & at Stanhope but however at all events you should be at Stanhope soon there are so many Things which ought to be Settled in your Presence that I shall not enter into a Particular detail of them in this but amongst the rest the Salarys of the Late and Present Mill Agents several Things respecting the Smelt Mill & Mines which all require your being there & as soon as you can fix if you would be so kind as let me know either myself or Sun will meet you at West Auckland you may come in  Post Chaise all the way to Stanhope very well. I think one of the Mr Ramshays should meet you there as such when you let me know of you Coming I will take Care to get them Notice I should not have been so very pressing of your coming but am very well convinced it must be of the greatest advantage to the Earl of Carlisle.

      I am &ca Jona Hilton