Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 15 Jan 1782

Messrs Mulcaster                                                				Farnacres 15th January 1782 



       The account of the last Assays you have as follows.

                             Gr 80ths   Oz pwt Gr tenths

Thortergill Slag              1.16 equal 11.15. 4 8  PFodder

Windybrow Slag                  56 equal  6.17. 4 8

Rich Lithareg lead            1. 8 equal 10.15.14 4

1.74 equal 18 17. 7 2/10 PFod



       Price of Refined Lead £17 PFodder

       Silver Bullion		6s.2 1/2 POunce



       We were glad to find Dowgang Assay turned out on the Second weighing as good as at first and certainly should not have pardoned your doubts unless you had communicated them to us but as we had them communicated by you we think ourselves obliged by this attention to your duty.

       It shocked us to hear of the accident to poor Dixon but hope from your Account he will get well again very soon, he however ought to be extremely cautious how he ventures abroad.

       We are very happy to hear your work as to the Repairing of the Roofs is over and congratulate on getting over so troublesome and disagreable a busyness.

       We would not have you give the Elliots any Recets but to return the Recets we sent you in the meantime however we would have you tell them we are extremely dissatisfied at their not keeping their word.

       The damage at Blaydon Mr Blackett spoke to me about and I find it has been very considerable & it was very fortunate that no Lives were lost.  We are

       Your Humble Servts

       Walton & Turner



PS  The Assay Scales are expected every day & we have ordered them to be ordered to you but would not have them unpacked till we come to the Mill.  We are much obliged to Mr Jas Mulcaster for his comparative View of the Value of Browneyhill and Dowgang Ores it is surprising it shd come so near at the first fire but clearly Dowgang is the more valuable of the two.  We send this by Mr Thorntons Boy.