Letter – Jonathan Hilton to John Gilbert – 7 Jul 1777

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr Gilbert				Alston 7th July 1777



Sir,

      I was at Stanhope the 3d Inst and find the Drift going up in the North Vein in order to cut the Shieldherst Vein Let to Wm Willis & Partrs to Drive 15 Fathoms at 30/- p fathm & 30/- p Bing is now getting some Ore. Palpayman’s working in the North String Opposite to the Pump Sump is very poor, the String is turning to the Vein & how the Working may prove when the String & Vein meets time will shew. The rest of the Workings are much as when let, excepting John Bainbridge’s where you observed something going off to the Sun at the South End of Norwoods cross cut & by his cutting to the Sun has met with a Flat of Ore, that may work at his price 45/- p Bing, and by Matt Stobbs & Partrs seeing the above flat they now choose to begin working the Bargain they took the 4th April last which was to sink a Shaft for a Vein South of the Quakers Vein and after sinking the Shaft and cutting the Vein to have 45/- p Bing for all the Ore they raised in 3 Months or 40s p Bing for all the Ore they should raise in six Months, but were to fix which Bargain they would have so soon as the Vein is cut.

      This Bargain of the 4th April was put out when you were at Stanhope and a different one Let to Ralph Sanderson & Partrs the Shaft to be Walled but Mr Sellers & I thinking that not so good a place to try the Vein as cutting cross out of Stobbs Working in Greys Vein to the String altered it; our reasons for which you will see in our Letter of the 8th June. And as the trial of Stobb’s will be near about half way from the Old mans forebreast to where we are cutting a cross and done with no expence to my Lord but a little Wood I thought it right letting them have their Bargain.

      Greengill Forebreast is much as when Mr Sellers & I wrote you last but is very bad for Air will be obliged to put in Air Boxes. My son mentioned in his last to you my intention of trying Greengill & Bentyfield Vein betwixt Pattinson Sill & the Little Limestone. I have let to Thomas Whitesmith & 3 Partrs to Drive Southwards for that purpose 10 Fathms or till they cut a Vein at 12s p Fathm: where they begin is about 200 fathoms East of the forebreast in the Great Limestone at Bentyfield. We have now got the Rails & Vogue out of How Blagill Level, & have laid 36 fathoms of those Rails in the Drift taken out of the foremast deep Sump at Greengill & intends putting in a Vogue there as that Drift must be carried up to the Forebreast to Air it. I intend setting on Six Pickmen to Drive forward the above Drift which drift will be about 18 Fathoms.