Letter – William Armstrong to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 1 Feb 1795

Dear Sir,



I Understand from some words droped by the present Lessees of Allen Mill that they are much afraid your Lordship, shall take her into your own hand, which information agreeable to the purport of my former letter incourages me to make a second Adress.  Praying that your Lordship will excuse my boldness take notice of my letters and compare them with your mill Accounts and by such examination you will find there is great improvement due to your Smelt Mill works and many of the most principal Errors would be rem[ed]ied by taking the above named Mill into your own hand one Instance.  I remember i repeated it to you in my former Adress some time ago.  At your Mills a Ore hearth is only extinguished ones or twice in Six days has Six or Eight workmen to one hearth which will not allow the hearth to lie Idle, otherwise that Number of Men would not have time to complete as much work as would make them suffi[ci]ent wages.  Now at some mills where workmen is tied to their produce they never have above four men to one Hearth works as this, two starts and works 13 or 14 Hours then draws the harth and lets her stand and cool about 10 or 11 hours, by which means she is the same every day for the first two men completes their work in 3 days and the Hearth is standing of on the 4th day in the Morning, ready for the last two men Only.  Consider the difference between four men to one hearth and six or eight, giveing you to Understand a Hearth never begins to consume her metal till she grows hot and if you had more hearths and fewer men to one hearth it would remedy that Error, also where there is s many men to one hearth that they cannot put out the fire every change they cannot weigh the metal to them or yet Understand which man works honestly and which not, and if there is a fault the Agent is at a loss who to correct, Now if you had only four men to one hearth and work as aforesaid a man would not suffer a hearth to waste her metal or Else he would lose his character and be in a hazard of loosing his work.  Nay i could mention many & many an Error your Mills labour under that would be partly rem[ed]ied by taking Allen Mill into your own hand, for you are to Observe you have as many Hearths at every mill now in hand as the Water will drive.  Now this mill has a constant supply of water, not above three miles distant from Cole and lime and Adjoins the great road between Allendale Town and Newcastle and within eight miles of Coal Clugh or Wallop lead mines and even in the direct road, so as would be a great saving in carriage from any other of your Mills.  Nay in short she is every way well situated for the Buisness, and I can see so far as to know she will be many a hundred pound Yearly saving to you Occupying her yourself.  Now as I am nearly at the bottom of my paper I cannot add but if you wish to have the Advantages more fully Opened Order your Clark to form a correspondence with me & I will shew every particular also be proud in being your Lordships Most Obedient Hble Svt.

      Wm Armstrong, Catten

February 1st 1795				Near Allen Town Northumberland

Col Beaumont