Letters – Joseph Richmond to Rudd – 1 Feb 1732

Mr Rudd			Newcastle 1st Febr[uar]y 1732

In my Lre  of the 21st Dec[embe]r I told you to keep & smelt Westgatehead oar separate & to mark up the Lead WB1, but I am now to tell you the contrary, w[hi]ch is, that you must mix both the Oar & [superscripted: <Bisby> w[i]th] the Common oar, for Dalton was guilty of a Blunder in making his Assay in a Pot used before, for on a second Tryal in a  clean Pot, I find those oars are as poor as any in Weardale, & won’t bear the Charge of Refining. It is great matter of surprise to me that Mr Bacons Wessenhope Lead shoud produce 4oz in a Fother more than ours, pray let me know if any other oar is mixed w[i]th our Wessen[h]ope or what you take to be the Reason of this Difference, I have wrote Mr Peart to send me 2 po[und]s of the Partn[ershi]p Wessen[h]ope, & 2 po[und]s of our own, that I may try what’s the difference.

I am etc  J.R.