Letter – William Blackett to James Standsfield – 30 Mar 1676

      Leed hill  30th March 1676

Honnored Sr

      Yrs of the 28th pres't  by Mr Dunbar full frieghted With apolegies for Yr not Coming to the Wanloch head as this time som of wh' are Weighty others could have been Dispensed with However I am of so good an nature that I shall pass by such small things.

      I Cannot answer your Letter in every pticular  [as] I Cannot stir abrod this day so Cannot give you  [missing word] wt Condishon the Mines are in . 2ly)  I pay not our [missing word] till Saturday so am not able to Informe our <charge> til that day. I p'cave you intend for Carlisle next week, where I intend to be eather Teusday of Wedden's next in my way home. I have sent yours to my Lord but shall neather setal for Wood nor gras Roome unless you were pres[en]t the first we have most need of, & ought to be taken care for, the [missing word] wch occations our mens idlenes som times & [missing word] to agre for wood  (without which no tryall can be [missing word] being but one fifth part concerned I judge it not <p... able> leest the other four fifths aprove not of it when don. I [missing word] if Vermuyden be conserned as you say he is & he saith so til I be certaine of that I shall not ingage for it  <….> I wil have to doe with not Vermuyden & for the Gras Room we have no occation this year for any, so to give 800 <££> for nothing I am not wiling, [missing word] we should take it . £40 will not <stock> it for [missing word] then we must have one or more to look to it [missing word] for our men noon of them is able to stock half parts and if we had it they would Grumble if we let owt a hors or a cow of thairs goe thair gratis to avoide which I shall let the gras room alone for a time - I have recvd £40 of Mr Dunbar . I rest till I see you Sr

      Yrs Wm Blackett



[outer leaf:] Sir James Standsfield Knight/ these presents/ In Edinburgh/ pr Wm Dunbar

[annotated:] 30th March 1676 Mr William Blackett that hee <being> but 1/5 concerned hee will not agree for the wood nor grass Roome nor will be concerned wth Vemuden