Letter – Martin Morrison to John Dolphin – 20 Jul 1826

      Newcastle 20 July 1826

Mr J. Dolphin – Ruffside. –



I am this morning favored with your Letter of the 19th Inst, inclosing two from Dr Phillpotts to yourself, the assumed quantity of Ore produced from the Weardale Mines during the last 3 Years, I neither admit nor deny, and as We are treating for the future and not for the past, I do not feel called upon to say more respecting it. – By Dr Phillpotts Drawing Ore for his Tythe, - the question is, what in fairness the proportion ought to be, to enable Col Beaumont to work the Mines to the extent they have hitherto been wrought. The Dean & Chapter of Durham let at a seventh duty. The Revd Mr Wilson of Wolsingham at the same, receiving from Col Beaumont, as Rector, one-fourteenth of Ore, <on its> value in money, and Dr Phillpotts himself has admitted, more than once, that the Weardale Mines cannot be wrought to their present extent, if a 5th Duty is exacted. – What proportion then, of the future produce of the Mines in his parish will satisfy him? – That produce may be more, or less, than it has hitherto been; but there is one material consideration, and I should hope Dr Phillpotts will give it its due weight – the certainty that the  expenditure of money necessary to obtain a large produce of Ore, can never be less, and will be more. – I beg to add it will be satisfactory to me, that our future communication upon this subject be by personal interviews, and not by Letters, for I am anxious to avoid giving the slightest offence to Dr Phillpotts, who by the stile and tenor of his last Letters, appears displeased. – I hope this will find you better & am etc  MM