Letters – Benjamin Johnson to Finlay & Hodgson – 17 Apr 1833

Messs Finlay Hodgson & Co 						April 17th 1833

	London	

	I deferred to answer your letter of the 12th until today that I might be able to report upon Mr Ps new Process of extracting silver. I have just returned from Blaydon and I am glad to be able to state that I have not the least doubt of its success.

It is of course upon a small scale, but I expect to send Mr Key from one to three Hundred frs on Saturday next. It is made from our worst description of Lead but appears very soft and to all appearances superior to our best common Lead. I note Messrs Bayley & Cos payment of £2500 and its application. I am sorry they have been disappointed of their common Lead but it could not be avoided. We have not been able to deliver Messrs Walker & Colast months quantity and they are urging the delivery. As soon as Mr Ps new Process is in full operation we shall be able to meet all our demands which could not otherwise have been done without making a great sacrifice of Lead containing from 5 to 7 Ozs of Silver. I will see Mr Plummer(?) and endeavour to let him have one half of Messrs Bayleys common Lead for the next ship. I have sold Messrs Grace & Yallop 70 Cask Litharge at £14-10 and offered them 20 tons of refined Lead suitable for white lead at £14 per Ton. Messrs Walker & Co have declined an offer grom Hudgill Co of a few Thousand frs at £14 per Fodder.

      We got our Pays well over and I will ford to you our stock of Lead at Blaydon, at the Mills and on the Road as soon as possible.