Letter – Joseph Hilton to Francis Gregg – 14 Jan 1776

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr Gragg 				Farnacres 14th Jany 76



Sir,

I make no doubt you have thought my Father long in sending Answers to the several remarks which you had inclosed 5th Ult & indeed I can only a Pologise for its not being done sooner by acquainting you that from the Time of your Letter arriving till the 6th Inst we were kept very Busy on attending the several Lead Mine Pays &ca in Alston moor so that till after that Time it was impossable to do any thing by way of Ansr you should have had a Letter sooner but we were in hopes of being able to send the whole Account before now; the reason of its not coming according to our expectation was a call I had to this Place on Account of my Engagement with Greenwich Hospital & I have been now here 8 Days. I can however acquaint you that we have made the Alston moor Pays & let the Christmas Bargains both there & at Stanhope & as I think there is no doubt of my getting home this week. I hope we shall be able to give you a full Answer to your Questions some time before February which I hope will Answer your purpose but we shall most certainly send the Accounts as soon as possable. Upon enquirey we find we cannot get Money from Messrs Atkinsons Templesowerby as we did last Year they having parted with all the Money they can spare for three Months. I intend before I leave this Place to enquire if we can have either & let you know in our Next.

      I am &ca Jona Hilton