Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 3 Dec 1772

Mr Mulcaster						Farnacres 3rd Decemr.  1772



      Upon examining the Lead Carriers Accounts I find that we have not Thomas Browns recets which he took from the Carriers to whom he delivered his Lead and as I suppose he must have them desire you will immediately make application for them to himself they are as follows.

For 62 to Rowland Smith

   267 to John Corbett

    21 to Wm Wear

   350    The Quantity he reced from the Mill.

I would have you make this enquiry immediately and if you can come at the Recets pray send them the first convenient opportunity.

      In your Operations for the time to come I would have you set down the marks of the Lead sent for Newcastle or Sold, that is, whether LS. 0S.L. O. or whatever the Mark may be.

      For the reasons you give I would have you in next operation to report Cowhill Ore as Smelted and the Lead made into 1Cwt pieces for Sale; if we think it necessary afterwards to melt and cast them into 1 1/2Cwt pieces that may be taken notice of in a future Operation and then say so many pieces of Lead of 1Cwt produced from Cowhill Ore melted down & cast into 1 1/2Cwt pieces produced so many of that size - I do not however think but we may sell them in 1Cwt pieces tho' I cannot yet tell you.  What you say to Mr Smeaton and myself upon this occasion is very agreable, as it shows your attention, every instance of which gives great pleasure to us; the ommitting the report of Cowhill Ore as Smelted, for the present Operation is quite right.  The Smelters must undoubtedly be paid in proportion to the Lead they produced from the Ore.

      Mr Bell acquaints me that there are about 302 pieces of Lead at Hexham.  I hope they will be all at Newcastle and Newburn by the beginning of next Week; as soon after that as possible I will come up to Hexham and make a full Pay and believe a Thursday will be the best to take in all the West Country Carriers as well as the Hexham Men.    Since receiving your Lettters of the 25th 28th & 30th I have got every thing ready for the Pay and only want now to know how the Lead delivered at Newcastle will answer to your Account of delivery at the Mill, as without knowing that we should not be able to charge the Defaulters in case of loss.

      We do not want Mr Bells opinion about any other manner of planting the Quicks or making the Hedges at Langley; all we want of him is to see from time to time that the Work is going on properly according to the Plan as sent you.  If you can agree for it at 7d or 8d P Rood it will do very well: 8 we must not exceed.   Mr Bell does not mention the Hedging in his Letter to us.   The Quicks should be all planted by the beginning of April but if the Hedging is finished by May day (1st May) it will answer the end.

      I will endeavour to see Mr Rawling about the sharpening of the Tools;  til you hear further do as well as you can and I approve of what you have done and are doing.  Mr Laybourne will I doubt not furnish the Men with what Boxes they want and I hope that is already done, if it is not he has disappointed me.

      You have certainly done right in getting another Washer & I hope he will perform well and it will undoubtedly be proper to get forward with Middle Cleugh Ore

      The Tryal of the Fume has not proved according to expectation, for tho' we apprehended a difference between the Refinery and Reducing Fume yet it was never expected it wd be so great as it is.   From what has been done we are now enabled to make a calculation what is most proper to be made of it.   The two small pieces will come very well in among the Common Slag Lead.

      The Operation is I believe right in every particular and I have filled up the Blank for the Bullion with 656 Ounces the Quantity I weighed it to

      Tomorrow I shall expect to hear what you have found out as to the Lead in the Carriers hands at Hexham and on the road between there and the Mill.

      The Bullion you will send as soon after you break up for Christmas as your convenience will permit.

      I wish the Ore Carriers cou'd be paid when the Lead Carriers are, as Mr Smeaton and I dont like to be in Arrears with any body when we can do otherwise; consult Mr Hilton about this and desire him to get the acct. ready directly in case he thinks it may be done.    I hope the Lead Carriers Accounts will soon be settled as every thing seems in great order and full Memorandums are made about each Carriers Account.  

      I am for Mr Smeaton & Self Yr most hble Servt

      N W Junr 



PS. I have seen Mr Rawling who desires youll be so good as get the Chisels sharped at as low a rate as you can which I doubt not you have done and will continue to do.