Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 3 Feb 1777

To Mr Mulcaster						Farnacres 3d Febry. 1777



Mr Mulcaster

      I have your Letters of the 25th & 31st Ulto & 1st inst. and your memorandums of the 27th Ulto all before me 

	The Silver weighed 846 ¼ Ounces wch is 5 oz: 18 Pwt short of the Assay and very good work but it is some what odd that there is no less than 1 oz – Pwt 19 8/10 G[rai]n of Silver left in every Fodder of the Refined Lead.

	I am glad to find you are in a likely way of having better Refining Furnaces than you have had and hope it will be the occasion of the produce of Silver being more regular than it has for some time been.

	As no Stones can be got on the North side of the Burn we must be content to get them from the Bogg or Wood Quarry as I would not think of raising a Quick Fence in that situation.

	You may send the Accot. of Materials in Stock 31st Decemr last whenever it is most convenient to yourself.

	Hangingshaw & Carrs Sun Vein last Assay is exactly the same weight of No.2 which you sent me before and the Lead is refineable and Copper Slit produces by Assay 9 Oz – 6 Pwt - 4 8/10 Gn p[er] Fodder.

	As the other Washers have offered to take the Washing of the Waste Ore at the same rate as John Bell if Bell will not begin imediately I think you should agree with the other washers but if Bell sets on directly I woud. Certainly have him preferred as being the first offerer.

	Your Nephew John must be allowed something for getting such Stones out of the Fence he has levelled as shall be used in making the Wall and whatever you think reasonable I beg he may have.

	I am rather at a loss what to say about Ned Elliot for to be sure if we could keep him it would be well but at the same time I have no Idea of keeping any Man who is dissatisfied with the work and therefore if he is not to be made sensible that he is taking a wrong step in leaving us by which his Father will certainly be at least likely to lose his employment under the Hospital, we must look out for somebody to supply the deficiency.   Pray is there no way of employing Thomas Elliot at Langley Mill wch would take him entirely from the Reducing Furnace and by that means the whole earning of the Reducing would go between Ned and John. but indeed I doubt not for I fear he is become too feeble.   I am sorry it so happens but if Ned Elliot leaves us I doubt we cannot justify keeping Thomas at the Reducing Furnace.   The produce this last operation is to be sure so much better than we had been used to before Ned came that the Sum in favor of last operation taking the Value of the Extra Lead produced amounts to about £14 – and if on that accot seems as if it would be better worth our while to give a little additional price p[er] Fodder by way of encouraging Ned Elliot to stay this however is a tender point and I only hint it for your serious consideration and opinion & shall be glad to hear from you when you find it convenient I am

      Yours &c

      NW Junr.