Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 28 Sep 1770

Mr Mulcaster. 							Farnacres 28th September 1770



      I have this day tryed the Weight of the Assays and find the Produce to be as follows:

 

                   Oz Dwt Gns

No. 1 per fodder     7 16 19 2/10

No. 2 per Do        28 18  4 8/10

No. 3 per do       345 16  8 4/10

 

From this it is Evident that all the Litharge which comes from the Silver Test should be kept by itself and Refined over again and it shows that the several Tests (from which the pieces are drawn after afterwards those put into the Silver Test) should not be drawn too low, for if that is done a Quantity of Silver must come off with the Litharge, and indeed by way of curiosity I should like that you would keep parcels of the last Litharge which runs from every Test in the next Operation before such Tests are draw and make Assays of each Quantity. I am

      Your dear Hble Servt

      Nich Walton Junr

      

PS I should like to know how much Lead may be produced from the Litharge taken from a Silver Test containing the Silver of 160 Fodders and therefore desire youll give it a guess.