Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 26 Jul 1779

To Mr Peter Mulcaster.               				Farnacres 26 July 1779



Mr Mulcaster

       Inclosed you have a Sketch for the Conduit at Stublick new Winning and you'll observe the only difference in the Dimensions from what you mention in your Letter is that the side Walls of the Conduit are to be only 16Ins broad at the Top. The Cover stone is drawn to be 6 Inches thick but I don't expect you'll be able to get of that thickness for the whole tho' I wish to have them strong & where you think them too weak they shd be strengthened by double covering so as to break joints.  Where the covers have little Earth upon them they need not be so strong & yet they must be sufficient to bear Cattle, and in the laying of the Covers they shd be dressed so as to joint tolerably fair to prevent the Earth dropping down into the Level.  If it should prove that we cannot get Flags for the Bottom it may be paved or <penned> with Stones set edgeways across the Bottom.  The Cover Stone is drawn to overlap the Wall on each side 6 Inches but if it is more than that it will be better.  The manner in which you propose to regulate the cutting is very proper only it will be necessary to alter your Sketch so as to answer for 16 Inches instead of 18 and certainly it will be proper not to cut more than just to get in your Sizes of Conduit and Well if the sides will stand and I hope they will.  I approve of what has been done and shall be glad to hear they go on successfully.  I am very well pleased you have got your Bricks set fire to as I feared they wd be hurt by the violent Rains & I think you are lucky to have got half the Peats.  You have done quite right in setting Robson to the smelting.   I have the pleasure to acquaint you that we have sent 530 pieces of Lead to Greenwich Hospital.  I am

       Yours etc.  N W Junr