Letter – Jonathan Hilton to John Cleaver – 27 Oct 1777

A Copy of a Letter sent John Cleaver Esqr. 			Alston 27th Oct. 1777



Dear Sir,

Your esteemed favour of the 6th inst. came here on the 15th inst. Mr. Gilbert came here on Tuesday the 7th inst. & stayed here along with the Receivers for Greenwich Hospital till Monday the 13th settling matters concerning the Great Water Level he proposes carrying on and the level to cut How Blagill Veins: after that he went to Newcastle and his way here made the pays at Stanhope Friday the 17th came to Alston on Saturday and made the Alstonmoor pays on Monday the 20th. I gave him your Letter to read, and after viewing the situation of the several mines that are in partnership he then said that their should be a boundary fixed betwixt Lord Carlisle & you which is certainly right to be done as the works he purposes carrying on must be very expensive and what I think should be viewed by you before you either give up or take any part as I am unwilling to advise till I have the pleasure of seeing you here, it seems very much Mr. Gilbert’s desire to make everything agreeable to you and not to advise you contrary to your own inclinations to enter into the new works he proposes. He pays where you are concerned was made clear & all paid that due till the 20th inst. The Balance after receiving for your share of the Ore raised from Michs 1776 to Michs 1777 was £104.5.7¾ which I have advanced for you & hope you will be so kind as to remitt me as soon as you conveniently can as this is the time of the Year I generally buy in a stock of Tallow. There is no Dead Work to be carried on excepting a Level carrying on with 4 men to cut Cooperdykeheads Middle Vein which vein I expect will be cut and a tryal made in the Great Limestone by Candlemas next. Bargains Let Michs 1777 Let John Walton & 5 parts to raise Ore in Greengill West End Forehead till Christmas next at 21s p Bing. Let John Dawson & 3 parts to raise Ore in the Roofs near Greengill West End forehead till Christmas next at 24s p Bing. The above is the truest & best Accot. I at present can give.

      J.H.