Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 22 Feb 1777

To Mr Mulcaster					Farnacres 22d Feby. 1777

	

Mr Mulcaster

      Yours of the 17th has been received and the Assays therein Weighed; the Produce of which you have as follows

                                                80 parts   Per Fodder

                                                Of Grains  Oz pwt Gr

No. 1 Litharge Lead from 2d Pig after Test begun  3 equal      3  16,2

    2  Do               21st Do                   4 equal      4  21,6

    3  Do               42d  Do                   6 equal      7   8,4

    4  Do               63   Do                   9 equal     11   -,6

    5  Do        73d or 74th Do                  11 equal     13  11,4

    6  Do               84   Do                  14 equal     17   3,6

    7  Do being from the last Litharge drawn 

             before end of Test                  30 equal   1 16  18.

    7  Do                       another Test     56 equal   3 18  14,4



      The above as also the Reducing are such material parts of the General undertaking at Langley Mill that they require the most serious attention and I shall be very glad to see you at Hexham on Tuesday Evening to talk over what has occurred & to communicate to you the joint Sentiments of Mr Smeaton and myself.   In the mean time you will I hope have fixed in your own mind upon the person you think most proper to succeed Ned Elliott & the sooner we are quit of Elliot the better; but tho’ he leaves us a little awkwardly, I wd wish him not to be distressed by us, and that he may continue ‘till Mayday without he can sooner get himself otherwise employed, or chuses to leave us before Mayday.   The inclosed is referred entirely to you & if there is no impropriety in the request I doubt not you will continue it so as to keep clear of interfereing  with the other Carriers but I don’t understand that we have thought it proper to allow any Carriages to take up Lead at the Mill in fresh Weather in Winter tho’ it is frequently done in Frost and I beg we may not break thro’ any General rule to please any body or otherwise we shall desert the object of the joint endeavours of us all which is that of producing the most Profit by the whole undertaking and regularity in our proceedings and in doing this we have ever had the greatest satisfaction in finding your endeavour to operate in the warmest manner with that of ours and I have been the more minute upon this occasion because if you should think there is a prospect in the least of giving Umbrage to the rest of the Carriers I would not by any means have an alteration made altho’ Atkinson is a well meaning industrious Man according to what I have always understood.

	I would have you be at Hexham on Tuesday against Dinner time and wait ‘till I come if even it should be late in the Evening that is I wd have you to stay all night at Hexham & then I hope I shall certainly have an opportunity of spending at least a Couple of hours with you either on Tuesday afternoon or evening or on Wednesday Morning before I go to Corbridge & if I can possibly, I will bring the accot. of the produce of Bullion from the begining to the present time compared with the Assay.   I am with much regard

      Yours &c. NW Junr.



PS I was in Newcastle this day but no Silver arrived yet.



      Copy

Sir 

      I beg leave to let you know that I desire to have two catches of Lead from Langley Mill in the Week with two Carts in frosty weather when we have no imploymt And one Catch in the Week in fresh or Summer Weather with two Carts or what Quantity you think proper Mr Mulcaster tells us that he has no objections against us haveing Lead if we could get an order from you if you please to send us an order you will do us a great favour.

 I am your most Obt. Servt.

		Edw: Atkinson



Bagraw Feby 21st: 1777