Letter – William Blackett to James Standsfield – 24 Nov 1676

      Newcastle 24 9ber 1676

Honnored Sr

When you first took Wanlochead you neather could nor would let me be concerned more than one fifth part b& accordingly the tack was made you for four fifths & I one fifth afterwards when Mr Vermuyden flew back from you, you then granted me in room of my one fifth to be a quarter part concerned wch I accepted  off & stated the Accts accordingly & conforme to that I have all along rekoned you nfor three quarters & I for one quarter you have the book of that charge wch examine when you please I shall make apear theese Disbursmts made & I hope according to yr proportion you will pay yr three quarters. the works is not so dispiseable but Hopefull & I at first tould you that it would cost us £600 before we could make any tryall. My Ld & I had some rekerning for the Wood wch we agreed at last for £30 , £7 or 8 of wch Jno Schand will pay it was a gret fall of my Ld to demand 3000[sh] scots & take £30 st  but I presume his instegators & Advisers to demand thatt som thought us eather fools or that finding our mo. we knew not how to dispose of the same. My Ld would have had me to have laed out some way for more wood I tould him we had as much as would sarve us til we saw better hopes of a mine 

for last I am content to try hir this winter & shall accordingly order my quarter part to be pd as Jno presents you the accots & so let us goe on unanimusly a gods name yr freinds wil not desert you surely. Hugh Wallace was saying he would take a part with you iff you be tyred of yr three quarter part soe iff he wil take one of yr hands I cannot at this time Sr Wm goes not for London til after Christenmas so with my kind respekts to yr self  I rest

Yr Affnate Fr & sarvt 

Wm Blackett



[outer leaf:] For Sr James Standsfield Knight In Edinburgh/ pr paid

[annotated:] Nov 24 1676 Mr Wm Blackett that he always reckoned me for ¾ & himself for one fourth