Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 11 Jul 1773

Mr Mulcaster.                                       Farnacres 11th July 1773



       We have reced your Letter of the 5th instant & and think you have done right as to the Slag Smelters.  We hope they will prove more successful in their trial at Nenthead Mill than they seem to apprehend and that they will be useful to the Company and answer every wish your Brother can entertain

       It gives us pleasure to find Guddamgill Burn Cross Vein answers as well as a flux; to be sure it cannot be expected that we shall have a sufficiency of this Ore to mix with all our stubborn sorts but as the difficulty of working will be greatly decreased by mixing so far as it goes, and as, upon the whole, the Ore of this year will certainly be much better than for a few years, two years at least, back, we look upon it that the Smelters would be unreasonable in expecting an advance and indeed we cannot take upon us to make an advance without very good and substantial reasons for so doing.  You will observe the difference of times between 40 years ago and now cannot be brought into the question by us because other Manufacturers In the same branches have not thought it proper to make any difference on this point and as we are not the most considerable it would seem imprudent in us to take the lead and make an alteration on this Ground without at least consulting with some of the principal owners of like kind of works.

       We are glad to hear the Hedging goes on so well and doubt not of your diligence and care in getting the whole compleated with all expedition.  Upon the whole it will come as low as we ever expected.  As you have old Iron you may fix the Rails as you propose but you must keep an exact amount of the Quantity of Old Iron and Lead used which must be charged in the Hedging Bill, the Iron at 12s PCwt and the Lead at 11/2d P Pound the making and fixing the Staples you will of course also charge in the Hedging Bill.  Let the Staples be run in with the hardest Lead you can find at the Mill.

       Pray let us know in your next what Quantity of Bone Ashes you have at the Mill untouched and what remains at Hexham; and you will acquaint the Bone Ash Carriers that we have lent the ten Casks of our last Quantity which arrived at Newcastle so they will only have 40 to bring up 'til we can be repaid the Ten and we apprehend that will be before the carriage is stopped, wch it is to be wished might be at such time as that all the Lead should be got in before the October Pay and we therefore think it will be best to stop the carriage about the beginning or middle of September and after the Pay to set it forward again til the Mill is cleared.  We should be glad to have your sentiments about this. 

       We are your most hble Servts

                       W & S