Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 15 Jan 1781

Mr Mulcaster                                                  			Farnacres 15 January 1781 



       Yours of the 10th 11th & 12th are now before us.   The Estimates and Plan being now arrived it appears quite clear that a New House must be built at Stublick Colliy and we have an offer so much below Watson & Howdon that we must take the lowest bidders they being Workmen who have approved themselves in many instances worthy of our encouragement; and the sooner Watson and the Howdons know this the better.  Thomas Temperley will tell you it is expected the difference between the two sets of workmen will be £15 at least but this to yourselves the directions you have given are perfectly clear as to the dimensions, and it is determined to have the House 17 feet high.

       We are glad Dunwoodie thinks he will be well again without applying to the Infirmary but we are of opinion he should try the Infirmary as in case he can be Relieved it will cost him nothing, but staying a Week at Newcastle and he will afterwards be able to do his work comfortably to himself several of the Quarry Men at the Grindstone Quarrys by hard Lifts bring on those kind of complaints and most of them are so relieved by wearing Trusses that they can work as well as if nothing ailed them.

       Thomas Temperley says he has done what is necessary about Wood for the Level.

       What you mention about the Smelting is a very agreable to us and we desire Joe Bell of Pytrune may be tried at the Ore Hearth as you point out.

       The raising of the price of Coals at Stublick Colliery rather than the lowering them & decreasing the number of Hewers would have been the thing not only for the Lessees but G. Hospital and in that case the Lessees might have increased their number if they had found that necessary in short they might have done as they pleased but now they are tied to their Men & the Men to them and the lowering of the Coals cannot as we shd apprehend give them relief.  There is time for us to consider before we fire 'a Prue' and we shall certainly consult with you before we do that.   It is surprising you don't hear from Mr Tweddle of Unthank; but do you think it would. It be well for you to acquaint him that you have made Tryal of his Cynders & it appears it will not be worth our while to make an alteration tho' they are very good ones & that we must beg he will be so good as let us pay for what we have had.  Thomas Temperley does not make the least difficulty about furnishing us with Cynders and from what he says there does not indeed seem the least hazard but that we shall always have a good supply both before and after the Level is up but particularly after that or apart of the Main Coal may be reserved for the purpose and a Cynder Oven Built.

       	We are Your Humble Servt

       Walton & Turner 



PS. Mr Walton has been so sadly plagued w. a sore Toe that he could not write you yesterday and hopes youll receive this as soon as you wd have done if he had wrote by yesterdays Post.



Youll perhaps hear again from us tomorrow.