Letters – Benjamin Johnson to Finlay & Hodgson – 22 Aug 1833

      I have duly rec[eive]d your fav[ours] of 16th & 19th and note you having carried the net account of sales of two Pieces of silver £579-9s-11dto your Credit for Commuted Commission. I yesterday forwarded to your address as usual per Jackson & Co Waggon a piece of fine Silver weight 1759 Ounces.

      When advised by Messrs Batson & Co of the receipt of Messrs Maltby Son & Co Payment of £5444-2-8  shall credit their account. The stock of Lead at Blaydon  - supposing the Lead at the respective mills to be delivered would stand precisely as you state. But since I last wrote you I have sold to James & Co 2,400 P[iece]s  ref[ine]d 540 Common and 60 Slag and to Joseph Price & Co for Exportation to America 500 P[ieces} Ref[ine]d (ordinary) 450 Common and 50 Slag at £14 & £13-10 to which add your sale to Malby & Co of 2500 Ref[ine]d and 2500 Common making the stock at Blaydon 



       Refined	  Common    Slag     Refinable

       22,993    24,346    5,790    31,879

Sold   14,900    12,340    2,760	

        8,093    12,006    3,030



Return of    Ref[ine]ed   Common     Slag

Sales made 



August 17th     9,500      8,850      2,650

James & Co      2,400        540         60

Price & Co        500        450         50

Maltby & Co     2,500      2,500           

               14,900     12,340      2,760



      To meet the 12,006 P[iece]s of Common sold there are at Blaydon and the Mills 7,981 P[iece]s leaving a deficiency of 4359 p[iece]s to be made up out of the recasted ordinary.

Taking into account the required preparation for recasting I do not think we can calculate on any surplus of Comm[on] Lead beyond our present sales at the end of next month but you may safely calculate on 5000 P[iece]s by the end of October.

      We might increase this quantity by ceasing altogether the separating process, but I cannot recommend it Mr Pattinson being of the Opinion, from recent trial of the most beneficial result. 

      He is now taking out his Patent, satisfied that it will turn out more beneficial than he at first anticipated.

      I have learnt that Price & Co are casting a large quantity of Lead into weights to export to America as Manufactured Goods, upon which only <15 -6d> duty is paid and the <Rascolls> House of Liverpool has contracted to supply a large American house with 1000 Tons in weights for the same purpose. I have no doubt both Walkers and Maltbys are intending to do the same which makes them so pressing for delivery. Walkers house made the communication to a friend of mine.

      I shall send you a portion of the accounts and statements you are wanting under cover to TW Beaumont at St James Place on Sat[urda]y and will date the letter at the <corner>  of the direction Newcastle aug[us]t 24th for distinction and continue so to do.

      The quantity of Lead Mr Pattinson will be able to refine at Blaydon will be from 5 to 6000 P[iece]s a month of the resting stock.

      August 22 1833 – It is possible Price & Co may want to Purchase a further quantity I shall not  <commit> ordinary Ref[ine]d at £14 & Slag at £13-5 we can <issue> after you have supplied Maltbys I think we may ask a little advance. I have thought of 10/- but will try 20/-



P.S. Messrs Bevington Gibbins & Co have purchased 200 Casks of Litharge at £14-10/-