Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 5 May 1775

Mr Mulcaster.                                      		Farnacres 5th May 1775



      We think if you can make it convenient, when you are short of Water, it will be best to lay off the Slag Hearth; as those Bellows, we judge, take as much power as any two of the others, and not only that, but oblige the rest to Work to a disadvantage, by their not making full Strokes; the rule is, you see, when the Slag Hearth is on to take up, til it will do its business at 18 Kams P Min and to adjust the rest to it: but when the Slag Hearth is off, it will be best to take up the Ore Hearth Bellows til, either they make full Strokes, or the Wheel sets fast by too slow a motion, as happened when I was there: the thing is, the slower the motion of the Wheel (tho' you are obliged to increase the Stroke in proportion) yet it makes the more of the Water: and so on, til the Wheel, by going irregularly, makes a stop: and the reason why it will bear to go slower, without the Slag Hearth than with it, is that the irregularities are not so great, nor so far as under, being repeated every three Kams of the three pair of Bellows, that is to say, the same irregularity recurs four times in one round of the Wheel.

      The Bullion we have not yet weighed, but the Refined Lead has less Silver in it this Operation than any since we began to make Assays after Refined which shows the Work to have been well done.

      Pray acquaint Edward Bell that we cannot think him a proper Person to be employed as a Smelter at Langley Mill.

      You may build a a Wall on the front of the little Bingsteads 2 feet high with Posts of Stone as you recommend and we approve of what you propose as to the Division Wall in one of the Three West of the Refinery. The South side of the back Wall of those three Bingsteads, is to range fair with the front Wall of the Refinery and provision must be made for having Buddles placed in a proper Situation for them as you mention.

      We have ordered you a Ream of Paper.

      Great care should be taken to have a Person to go along with the Waggons when they carry the Coggs and Rounds to Dilston and get them put into the Barn immediately, or otherwise many of them may be stolen after they get to Dilston.

      We would not have the Ore brought in this year to be reported in the Operations 'til all the old Work is compleated and therefore desire you will send out another Operation leaving out that Ore, and you need not make out any more Operations til all the Work is compleated for last years Ore etc.

      The Lead Carriage from the Mill must be stopped, and you will let all the Carriers know, that we shall make a Lead Carriers pay at the same time as the Mill Pay is made and they must take care to get all in as soon as possible to Newburn and Newcastle, without which we shall not be enabled to pay them.

      When at the Pay, shall fix every thing with John Corbett about Dilston Barr etc.

      John Robson is in Arrear £13 and shd pay £5 of this Arrear at the next pay,which we desire you will acquaint him with immediately, and you may let him have Money on Account only taking care that there shall be sufficient left for this purpose.     We are

      Yr  hble  Servts

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