Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 31 Jul 1772

Mr Mulcaster                                             				Farnacres 31st July 1772 

      

      We have reced both your Letters, one of the 22nd and the other of the 27th inst the latter inclosing the Operation for the present Month.   The Bullion weighs 506 Ounces but, there is a part which we doubt will not prove fine we beat a piece of Slag or Clay out of a hole in it ourselves.

      You did very well in giving Nicholas Temperley and Thomas Brown some of our Rum.

      As the Cottagers seem so bad to deal with we desire youll tell them that hearing of what they have given out we are, determined to let the Affairs of Farming for them alone.  This will probably bring out the truth and let us see who is to blame for the misbehaviour you mention and then we shall be glad to hear from you, til which time we shall defer giving up the Ground again to Thomas Brown.   This hint of the Workmen is a sufficient reason for letting them have nothing but Grass Land.  Thomas Browns behaviour on this occasion, tho' perhaps excusable, is of a piece with his conduct in general unaccountable

      What you propose concerning the Ore Tails is very proper and you will act accordingly.

      It is difficult what to say respecting the advance of Wages on Account of the Ore Smelting worse this year than before but we think it will be the best way to assure the Smelters that they shall have an allowance on such Account equal to the additional Labour they have by the difficulty in Smelting.   Upon this Idea the Smelting Wages are kept as they are, at Six Shillings P Fodder and the allowance appears in this way to be clearly for the extra Labour.  It will therefore be necessary to observe carefully what the extra labour is and to inforce in the strongest manner to the Workmen the greatest care and attention to their duty to entitle them to this allowance.  The allowance at our Mill shd not be equal to the advance price given at Nenthead as we have an opportunity of mixing the Ores to make them run better which the Company cannot have, you must be the judge of the difference and you may be assured of our being satisfied with what you fix upon after you have fully made your observations how the Workmen got on & considered the difficultys which they will have to encounter.

      The Fume you may Sell for Six Pounds pFodder,  if you cannot get that at the Mill dont Sell any. We are

      Your hble Servts

      W & S 



PS. Mr Walton will be at the Mill God willing some time within a Week after the Newcastle Assizes are over.