Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 17 Sep 1775

Mr Mulcaster.                            			Farnacres 17 Sepr 1775.  



                                        Ounces

   The Silver of the Slag Lead weighed. 384 1/2

   Silver Litharge Lead.                127 1/2

   Last Operation.                      848 3/4



      We have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Profit of the Mill for last Years Ore Turns out much to our satisfaction and greatly to the advantage of Greenwich Hospital.

      [struck out para, presumably copied in error from another letter: ‘The circumstances relative to this affair have been already stated at length to the Board in our letters of the 2nd February and 2nd June 1774 to which we beg leave to refer, and we are now to observe, that having employed Mr. Jos’]

      We expect you will receive 1000 Bricks from Newcastle by to morrows Carrier and Clay for setting 1000.  We did intend to have had Clay for setting 2000 but on application for that were refused and I must therefore make the quantity we get do for 2000.  You will, we beg of you, take care to divide the Clay equaly between the South Country Bricks and Newcastle Bricks and in the Setting, the Fire Clay in each Furnace must be alike distributed as nearly as possible and put in the Joints next the Fire and what may be necessary as Mortar for the joints of the Bricks farther from the Fire to be of such kind as you have commonly made use of.

      With regard to the Water Course as we shall be with you on the 27 of next Month in the morning and stay with you til the 29th that matter will be best determined then, and we desire that the Dog may be kept in the new Stable formerly y Bakehouse til that time when we shall endeavour to fix upon some more proper place as a habitation for him as we realy doubt what you propose for such a Beast would not answer and particularly so as you receive by to morrows Carrier one that will in time be a Sweetheart for him.   His acquaintances should certainly be few.  Pray let him have some Straw to lie on and if you can now and then meet with a Dog Horse [sic; ‘House’?] from 3s to 5s price it will we doubt not be agreable to him to taste.         

      We are etc

      W & S



PS On reconsidering the matter respecting setting the Bricks as each Furnace may not take 1000 perhaps the Clay sent with 1000 may be sufficient to set both Furnaces & if so we leave you at liberty of adopting our Idea of filling the Joints next the Fire with Fire Clay and the other parts with Mortar as formerly in what degree you think convenient.