Letters – Benjamin Johnson to Finlay & Hodgson – 4 Sep 1833

Messrs Finlay Hodgson & Co



      Since I had last the pleasure I am in the receipt of your esteemed fav[ou]r of the 28th &  30th ulto & first in respect to the Executorship Acc[oun]ts.

      I find from Mr Donkin that he has not answered yor lre (letter) to him on this point, but that he will in course of this week. For my own part I should be exceedingly glad of any arrangement that would facilitate the making out and settling of these acc[oun]ts. And it would afford me great pleasure if Mr Knox could devise any plan that would be more satisfactory to yourself by which we could bring our books closer up. I fear it cannot be done. The attempt however, accompanied by a report to that effect would be highly satisfactory to myself.

      Mr Donkin is still of Opinion that Mr Adlington has no right to ask for any statement of the Lead acc[oun]ts and that it should not be given unless strongly pressed by Mr A[dlington].

I have not an opportunity to day (having a Lead Carriage Pay at Blaydon) to go fully into the statement of the Limehouse acc[oun]t but will do so in the course of the week. My observation that Mr B[eaumon]t should have credit for £27,200-11s-6d could only apply as stating the acc[oun]t in the way recommended by Mr Donkin.

      I am aware it is acc[oun]ted for in your acc[oun]t  Cur[ran]t.

      Your acc[oun]ts from Spain  and Petersburgh are very cheering



Messrs Maltbys Purchase

      Mr Jos[ep]h Crawhall - their agent here – has written fully to them on the marks on our Slag Lead. It is singular that all other purchasers prefer the Rookhope and Blaydon Slagto the Allen and Allenheads Messrs Maltbys preference can only arise from an accidental circumstance of smelting with a better than usual quality and which may not again occur.

Mr Craawhall enquires, for Messrs Maltbys, the quantity and price of Allen and Allenheads slag we have for sale. We have from 600 to 650 P[iece]s which can be delivered immediately & have referred them to you stating to Mr J[osep]h Crawhall that it would not be purchased under [£]13/10s. The difference in quality of Slag Lead arises from the quality of the Ore from which it is made – all the impurities being left in the process of smelting and refining.



Mr W[ilia]m Parker

      I note your sale 2000 P[iece]s to him and time of delivery which shall be duly attended to. His order for Litharge has been extended to seventy Casks.

      

      Messrs Locke Blakett & Co wish to extend their last purchase to 6000 P[iece]s which I have declined to do, unless at an advance of 10s/- to be delivered in November.

I think they are likely to accept my offer

      

Bullion

      The excess of Bullion in the six months ending July 31st 1833 over that of 1832 arises from the 10,000 Bings of Ore smelted and refined at Blagill Mill, two extra Furnaces erected at Blaydon and the Lead refined at Dukesfield mill were none was refined in 1832.

Litharge

      

      Our present Sales of Litharge will be completed by the 14th Sept[embe]r after that time if any extra quantity should be wanted 100 Casks a week can be made at Blaydon and the same quantity at the two mills Dukesfield and Allen. This of course would decrease the quantity of refined L[ea]d in proportion to the quantity of Litharge made. I have sold 32 Casks at £15 which price I continue to ask under the impression that Lead is worth £14 & £14-10s

      Since my arrangement with Mr Parker to make their Common Lead in 12 st[one] P[iece]s they do not seem to be at all anxious to get it away. I really believe they only wanted to prevent deliveries to other houses when they pressed urgently the delivery of all their Comm[on] L[ea]d before any other Purchaser should be supplied.



Messrs Roft Bayley & Co Bristol

      I have obtained from Blaydon a detailed statement of the Lead delivered to them – By which it appears there is an error of 4 Fodder 16 cwt in the weight of the refined Lead amounting to £64-5s-8d.

      This error must have been detected in Taking Stock at the end of the year. I confess  it is a very unpleasant circumstance and arose from an error in addition on the part of Mr Emmerson the Clerk at Blaydon.

      He stated the delivery and weight of 1500 B[ing]s Ref[ine]d L[ea]d to Messrs Bayley & C on Board 5 Keels at 2151 cwt .2 q[uarte]rs.7 lbs (pounds) as follows

           P[iece]s	 Cwt	qrs	lbs

      No. 1    300    450	 2  14

      No. 2    300    450	 3   7

      No. 3    300    450	 0   7

      No. 4    300    449	 3  21

      No. 5    300    450	 0  14

                    2151	 0   7



Which should have been 2251 Cwt, 2 quarters, 9 lbs an error of 100 CWT or 4 fodders and 16 Cwt. In future the detailed acc[oun]t will be sent here which hitherto has come in gross.

I yesterday forwarded to your address as usual by Jackson & Co Waggon two P[iece]s of fine Silver weighing 

    1 Blaydon  1588 1/4 Oz

    2 Allen    1358 1/2 Oz

      Y[ou]rs etc Benj[amin] Johnson

WB Lead Office  Sept[ember] 4th/33