Letters – Hugh Pattinson to John Hodgson – 23 Sep 1833

Lead Works Blaydon								Sept 23/33



Sir

	Mr Johnson yesterday handed to me that part of your letter to him of the 20th Inst containing some queries to me which on his request I have the honor of proceeding to answer.

The statement you have given of the Stock of Refinable Lead on hand at Blaydon at the different dates you mention is of course correct & shews an increase in 13 Months (viz from June 30th 1832 to July 31 1833 of 8775 pieces. This increase was occasioned not entirely by the extra smelting of the 10,000 Bings of Ore at Blagill Mill as you conjecture for all the Refinable Lead made at Blagill Mill was refined there except about 2,000 p[iece]s which were refined at Blaydon and by so much increased our Stock but the increase resulted principally from the circumstance that the stock of Ore laying at some of Mr Beaumonts own Mills at that time was entirely of the description to make Refinable Lead – the Ore producing Com[mon] Lead having been in a great degree smelted up. This was particularly the case at Allen Mill.

	In reply to your first query I beg to state that the Stock of Refinable Lead on hand at Blaydon I beg to state that the Stock of Refinable Lead on hand at Blaydon on July 31st 1833 viz 25,285 p[iece]s is now (23 Sept)reduced to 22,860 & by the end of June 1834 will be entirely worked up & converted into marketable Refined Lead at the same time also will be left the lead made from the present Years Ore with which the old Stock will not at all interfere, about the 1st of July 1834 when I shall begin to smelt the Ore of the year ending 30th Sept 1834 all the old stock of Lead will be Refined & all the Ore of the Year ending 30th Sept 1833 will be completely smelted up & the Lead from it also Ref[ine]d & ready for market. This will put us upon the clear footing you very justly consider so desireable.

      It may appear to you that the slight decreae of the Stock of Refinable Lead from 30th July to this date hard by corresponds with what I proposed to accomplish but I am fully aware why the stock has not decreased more rapidly. I deem it however unnecessary to trouble you with the details.

      In your second query you desire to know what Stock of Ore is required to be on hand at the different Mills on the first day of any Mining year to keep them in regular employment until they can be supplied with Ore raised at the Mines within the Year itself?

	The Mining year ends on the 30th Sept that is the workmen are paid for the Ore worked down in the Mines up to that date at the next general pay in the Spring. Now it takes a considerable time to get the Ore out of the Mines& to get it washed up & carried to the Smelting Mills so that the Ore worked in the Mines up to the 30th Sept is never entirely delivered to the Mills before the end of December or sometimes the 1st or 2nd week of January. The washing of the Ore of the ensuing year is seldom commenced with until April, or any part delivered to the Mills until about the beginning of May so that it requires at any rate a four Months Stock of Ore to be on hand at the different Mills at the conclusion of the <del[ver]y> of any one year at the end of December to keep the Mills at work until the new Ore is received of the following year. Aforementioned Smelting Stock is about 13,000 Bings. I believe I shall just about keep all the Mills at work next Spring until a sufficient quantity of the Ore of 1834 is delivered to proceed with but this need not deter you from endeavouring to sell Lead. Ore for no disadvantage to Mr Beaumont will be produced by one of the Mills (say Dukesfields standing a few Weeks between the Ore of 1833 & 1834.

	In my letter to Mr Johnson of Aug 3rd last I did not intend to convey any impression that a whole years stock of Ore was then on hand but only that a part was on hand and the remainder would be delivered in time to allow of its conversion into lead by June 1834.

	I trust this will be satisfactory in reply to your queries but if not shall of course be most glad to explain or supply further information.

	With the utmost respect and regard. I have the honor to remain Yr mo Obt Servt

							HL Pattinson