Letter – Robert Hodgson to John Cleaver – 28 May 1794

								Alston 28th May 1794

Dear Sir,

      Yours dated on the 14th Instant I received by Mr. Dickinson and agreeable to your desire has sattl’d my Acct on Greengill Lead Mine with him. I was very happy to find you had Ordered him to call upon me on that buseness, for my Son is Dead who was my princepell Assistance, and Old Age and informeties is cumming on, so I am mutch in the decline of buseness. Mr. Gilbert’s Agents & my Self could not carry on Greengill Lead Mine any longer without an Expence and no prospect Opening that we thought proper to recommend to venter upon so we discontinued working and sold the Materals. Mr. Matthew Dickinson has Examened all my Accts conserning the Mine of which you have a Statement Inclosed hear and I have paid him the Ballance in my hand according to your Order. Mr. Dickinson and I waited upon John Hutchinson I told him that I had received a Latter from you and that it was your wish to have the Acct Sattled with him on Greengill Lead Mine, without Aplying to the Lawes of the Cuntery, he said he had no Acct and did not know how the Ballance studd. Mr Dickinson will be able to give you sum further information on this Buseness as he had another meeting with him on sum other Affaiers as wee as yours.

      By the Inclosed Latter of Lady Ed Bentick’s you’ll be informed of her sentements of the Spars I sent, by your desier. I was Three Months in collacting them and was not at all Sattisfied with Sum of the Speciments, but could git no batter in this part of the Cuntery at that time, there is no choice of Spares hear to what I formerly had seen. 

      Mr. Dickinson informes me that you was in want of Sum Spares at this time. All that I have in my House I have sent of this day for your Acceptance. Mr Dickinson had a hand in puting them up but I am afraid you’ll think sum of them not worth Carriage.

      If I can be of any use to you in this place you may command my Assistance on any Occasion I remain

							Your Most Obedt Hbl Sart

								Robt. Hodgson