Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 19 May 1775

Mr Mulcaster.                               				Farnacres 19th May 1775



       I have reced. your Letter of the 18th and with regard to the Charcoal, can give no directions what is to be done either with regard to Cording or preparing the Wood for Coaling. I suppose the Workman who we get to burn it for us will be the best judge of that. I would not have more than one Pit burnt, til we see how the experiments answer, nor would I wish to have any fresh Wood cut on any Account.   Such part of the Wood that is brought to the Mill as is fit for the Mines, & not fit for the use of the Mill, must be cut out for the use of the Mines, and then we shall sell it to some of the Alston moor Adventurers.

       I am in no hurry to know when you will be ready to make out the Pay Bill, but I hope you will be enabled to get better forward in a few days than you have hitherto done as I wish the Pay to be as early as possible.  Neither the Refiners nor Slag Smelters can be paid in full, til the Slag Smelting is all finished and the Lead Refined, and I would not have the Silver Litharge reduced, til the Slag Smelting and Refining is all finished. I am

       Your hble Servt

           		N W Junr



PS I wish to know when Mr Laybourne expects to get the new Mill covered in, and when the Room above the Bone Ash House is ready I shall be glad also to know as, til then, we must keep the Ashes in the Warehouse at NCastle which is rather inconvenient.



Your last Operation is quite right.