Letter – Martin Morrison to Thomas Emerson – 16 Mar 1812

      NewCastle 16th March 1812

Mr Thomas Emerson Newhouse Weardale



In consequence of its being found expedient this year to defer the Mine Pays until the first Week in May- Featherstone Brown of Weardale and William Liddle of Coalcleugh deputed by the Miners have waited upon me, to represent the inconvenience which they labour under by this measure, and also, that it is understood by them that the Pays in future years are to be made in this month, - I am therefore to request you to make it known to the Miners in Weardale, Allenheads & Coalcleugh, that the Pays will be made next year on or about the first week in March as usual, and so on in every subsequent year; and as I understand dissatisfaction has been expressed by the Men at the present prices for raising Ore, I am to request you & the other Mine Agents in conjunction with Mr Dickinson whom I last week wrote to upon the subject, to make some small advance at the ensuing Bargains, bearing in mind at the same time the extreme distressed state of the Lead trade, and the little prospect there is of any advance taking place in the price of lead. The deferring of the Pays has given me great concern I propose going to London the moment I am able to travel and if practicable (of which however I see no chance) to send the means down to make the Pay a week or two earlier, but I certainly do not mean, by this observation, for you to give rise to expectation that they will be made before the first week in May –

You will of course communicate this letter to Mr Crawhall & to Mr Little