Letter – Jonathan Hilton to John Gilbert – 8 Jun 1777

A Copy of A Letter sent Mr Gilbert				Alston 8 June 1777



Sir,

We were at Stanhope on the 5th Inst and on examining Grove we must beg leave to tell you we have taken the Liberty of setting aside the Bargain you let to Ralph Sanderson &Partrs to sink a shaft in order to try a Vein South of Grey’s Vein; our reasons are; There is a cross Leader 12 fathoms South of Stobb’s cross cut which runs towds Sandersons String & by driving in that Leader 3½ fathoms we expect to cut Sandersons String where it and the Leader joins therefor if the Leader be of so much help to Sandersons String as we hope; it may carry good Ore: and further if Sandersons String keeps her point, and the Vein where you let the Shaft, keeps its point they will meet about 19 fathoms further to the West than where Sanderson’s String and the said cross Leader joins; this we look upon will be nearly as easy a tryal as what was proposed by sinking then Shaft and we are satisfied must be a more effectual one; we have on that Acct as you will see by the Bargains let Sanderson & Ptrs to drive up a Stoup for £5.5.0 by way of proportion to do the Work we have proposed; we have another reason for altering the Bargain of the Shaft; we are sensible from observation the Sills must be much broke at then place you fixed the Shaft from which we cannot any success, and we hope from the above reasons, you will coincide with us in opinion, for if it should so happen that when the Cross Leader & Sandersons String meets there be no good prospect, a cross cut to the Vein in which the Shaft was proposed will be only about Six faths in Length & clearly in good sound ground. By the Bargain at Greengill West End you will see, the forehead appears to us in a better situation than when you were here and we hope it will continue in the mending way as it seems to set down pretty in the Soal. You will also observe we have let a Bargain to cut a Vein called Cooperdykehead Middle Vein.