Letter – Jonathan Hilton to John Cleaver – 17 Nov 1773

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Cleaver 				17th Nov. 1773



Sir,

I fulley expected before this Time to have had it in my Power to give you a better accot of Greengill West End than I yet can from exceeding hardness of the shaft & the great quantity of Watter which it afforded we were three times longer in finishing it than I expected & after it was finished the Crosscuts which were necessary to be made were so much harder than I expected than the same Plate beds which we drove at Greengill East End at 30 p Fathom do cost us at Greengill West End from £4 to 5£ p Fathom therefore it must be Candlemas before any sufficient Tryal can be made with regard to Howblagill when we came to the Place where I expected to have made a Tryal of the Veins we meat with too very strong cross veins which broke the Sills very much & threw everything into such confusion that I am obliged to drive the Level 40 Fathoms further in hopes the sills may then be sound & then we may get proper Tryals made I saw Mr Lavie at Naward last Month and intend to draw on him the 18 December next for the amount of Lord Carlisles shair of the Alston moor Pays your shair will be one Hundred & Fifty Pounds which I desire you will remitt against that Time as I shall be then in Newcastle your Bill or Cash will much oblige your &ca

      Jona Hilton