Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 15 Apr 1770

Mr Mulcaster. 							Farnacres 15th April 1770

 

      As the Weather seems now promising we hope the Lead Carriage may very soon be got to Work; but dont set them on till you see the Roads so dried as to make it in your Opinion proper to begin. Mr Hilton will call upon you in his way to Alston and inform you which of the Carriers are to be discontinued we shall notwithstanding here repeat what was given him. Thomas Corbett John Kirsopp John Wren and Wm Wren are not to carry Lead either from the Mill or otherwise of which you are desired to give all the Carriers Notice. Isaac Hall is not to be allowed to carry any Lead except what he himself takes up at the Mill and carrys thro' to Newcastle or Newburn. Thomas Robson tho' his behaviour was not agreable last year is to be tryed again in hopes that his future Conduct will intitle him to be continued. The Ticketts you will remember we agreed upon to carry a Value you must therefore be very particular in giving the several Carriers Notice of what follows. The Mill Ticketts delivered by you to the several Persons who take up Lead at the Mill will be four Pence for each Piece of Lead contained in them, which four Pence PPiece is to be understood for their delivery at Hexham for the proof of which it will be absolutely necessary for them to take Receipts from the Persons at Hexham to whom they turn them over for that if any Pigs should be lost between Hexham and Newcastle they may know who is Chargeable therewith other wise them that first take them up at the Mill, will have no Remedy against the Negligence of the succeeding Carrier to whom they deliver them but in case of the loss of a Tickett without we are made Sensible that the Lead is delivered and that the Tickett shall never after appear for Payment the Money must be lost by the Person losing the Tickett. If any Person takes up Lead at the Mill and carrys it to Newcastle or Newburn any such Person must keep his Lead Mill Tickett. The Ticketts delivered at Newcastle are to carry the Value of Nine Pence for each Piece contained in them and the Carriers producing such will be paid accordingly except Thomas Ions & the Receivers will Engage that all Carriers delivering Lead to him shall be paid Eight Pence PPiece, but it is to be clearly understood that such Carriers are to repay thereout, all such Bank Leave as shall be paid to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland at Newburn in proportion to the Quantities of Lead which they shall respectively deliver at that place. The Bank Leave at present is 6d for every 14 Pieces. In case of any Newcastle Ticketts being lost the same Rule is to be observed as above mentioned in relation to the loss of Mill Ticketts.

 	Your Letter of the 11th Instant we reced yesterday by your Brother James. As to Barnatt we must be entirely rid of him his behaviour being such as not to admit of a Excuse. Yesterday we made application to Mr Richmond for a Refiner but though he told us he shd be glad to oblige us and would make Inquiry whether they could Spare us a Man or not we dont think from what passed that it is likely we shall Succeed in this application, and yet we believe it might be done without inconvenience to Sir Walter Blacketts Works. Mr Richmond must however be the best Judge of that, and it would be improper in as to desire him to do such a thing if he finds upon Enquiry that it may prove inconvenient.

      Pray cannot the Refineable Lead be laid aside til after the Unrefineable Ore is all Smelted and you will then it is likely have got some Refineable Ore from the Mines and be enabled to go forward with the Refining Business as by that time we may hope to get Barnatts place <supplied,> indeed we can scarce doubt of your getting a good Man before the new Ore comes in, and should there be an Opportunity, it must not be lost, tho' there might be some inconvenience when our Work does not supply Refineable Lead; we mean for want of Employment for the Refiners.

      You may take off the Silver whenever you see proper,

      We should like to have a thorough trial made of taking away the Litharge upon Shovels and it would be well when the Refinery is at a Stand to have everything made Compleat for that Purpose; at the same time the Stamp Mill may be finished.

      It gives us pleasure to hear your Nephew goes on so well and with your Assistance, we have no doubt of his soon becoming a good Workman; care and diligence, with proper directions, must always produce an agreable Effect. We are

             Yours Etc

             		Nich. Walton Junr

                           J Smeaton