Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 4 May 1770

Mr Mulcaster. 								Farnacres 4th May 1770



      Your Letters of 22nd and 30th Ult. are now before me.

      I think what you have done about Barnatt perfectly right and we must leave it to you to do your best in future as circumstances shall happen but if you have opportunity of engaging a good Refiner I would be clear of Barnatt whenever that comes in the way.

      It was strange that the last Operation fell so short in Silver; is it not possible that a good deal of Unrefineable Ore might by some mistake or other be turned into a wrong Bingstead. As the Produce according to the Assay was tollerable exact I can scarce see how it could happen otherwise and yet I think it not at all likely to have been in that way.

      Mr Bell would inform you about the Lead Carriage. Corbett and Johnson might one would have thought behaved better than they do but don't trouble your head about them and if they chuse to engage each other they are certainly at liberty so to do. We are determined not to alter the price and that you may say as from us, whenever you see it necessary.

      After your Brother has made the Tryal of Picking the Slags I should like to hear how he comes off.

      The Reducing Furnace I have not the least doubt but you will get done much more compleatly than she was done at first and dare say neither care nor pains will be wanting in your part, When Willy Laybourne comes I will order you some more Iron and give directions for Plates for the Litharge to run upon.

      As the Dawsons are Unhealthful they had best go together and I join with you in Opinion in what you propose concerning their places being Supplied.

      Youll not forget that all the Lead which is delivered this Year must be marked 1770.

      I don't know which of the Thomas Corbetts it is that we ordered to have no Lead but I now inform you that it is he who failed. I am. Your Hble Servt

      N W Junr



PS. At the time of finishing last years Ore an Operation Paper must be made out and a Pay Bill in the same manner as last year. We have had Cold Weather for Three days and this Morning all here was white with Snow.