Report – Thomas Dodd – 18 Apr 1807

      Nenthead 18 Ap[ri]l 1807

Hon[oure]d Masters		

      Having examined the Company’s Mines under my Care, I Let on the 25th, 26, & 27th past the sundry Bargains, a List of which is annexed. I have made with the utmost difficulty a reduction in the prices, & hope the Court will be satisfied therewith; it has brought on a universal Grumbling thro’ the whole ranks, & if times sh[oul]d turn out so unfavourable as to require a further reduction, many of the places in different parts of the Works may stand unwrought – 

      Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss Mines are both doing well, & probably will do so for a number of Years, which may be attributed solely to the Deep Horse Levels being Carried up to those Veins on a beneficial plan, without which those Mines must soon have been finished.

T. Humble &c agreeable to the List are Driv[ing] one of the Horse Levels – Josh[ua] Dryden &c another of the Horse Levels – J[oh]n Eddy &c are Cutting across to a fresh String, & will shortly raise Ore by the Bing – Jon. Shields &c are repairing an old Level as a general accommodation to the Mine & will soon be done – Jos[eph] Henderson &c are Driv[ing] a Level to relieve a part of the Vein of Water,will finish this Quarter, & then raise Ore – At Scaleburnmoss Mark Hall &c are Sinking a Sump in the great Limestone & in the course of 6 Weeks will begin to raise Ore – T. Hewitson &c are Sink[ing] into the Vein in a different part of the Mine, & J. Liverick &c are driving a Level under the great Limestone to drain the Vein – 

      MiddleCleugh continues poor, but will probably raise Ore in such a way, as to prevent loss – Ridley Robson &c are Driv[ing] a Level to drain the Vein of Water in the great Limestone – J. Hutchinson &c are Driving the Horse Level – R. Elliot &c are Sink[ing] a Sump to try the Vein in the great Limestone, & in the upper Sills also. Jos[eph] Dickinson &c are Sink[ing] in a different part of the Mine, both for producing fresh Air & proving the  Vein in the great Limestone.

      SmallCleugh Mine is doing better than it has done for some Years past, & is Working to advantage – W[illia]m Cousin &c are Sink[ing] a Sump to the Vein in the great Limestone – W[illia]m Wharton &c are Driv[ing] the level which proves a general drain to the Mine, & brings the Water to the Engine – W[illia]m Richardson &c are Driv[ing] the Horse Level, & G. Waugh &c another one in a different part of the Mine.

      Garrigill – Browngill Sun Vein is beginning to revive; The difficult Sump expressed in my last report sinking by R. Dickinson &c is now got down to the Ore, which is very promising. Jos[eph] Lancaster &c are Sinking a Sump into the Vein & will shortly raise Ore – T. Bell &c are Driv[ing] a Level under the great Lime to drain the Vein.

      Tynebottom is poor – Ant[hony] Brown &c are Driving the Horse Level & W[illia]m Thomason &c are driving a deep Horse Level as a common drain to the Mine, & to try the Vein in the four fathom Limestone.

      Broomsberry & Capelcleugh are both under Trial but raise small parcels of Ore.

      Middlehope Mine is still doing well – Cha[rle]s Maddison &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level & R. Elliot &c are Driv[ing] a deep Level under the great Limestone as a drain. Ireshopeburn is rais[ing] Ore to some advantage, tho’ upon the whole poor. J. Kidd &c are driving the deep level to relieve the Vein of Water – 

      We are doing every thing in our power to make a regular retreat from Darwent, but Mr Hall seems so  fond of the Law, that I am afraid we shall not be able to please him. –

      Stanhope Mine raises some small Parcels of Ore, but is very poor, the Level is going on by John Bainbridge & pa[rtners]

      Teesdale Mines – Wiregill is much reduced, employs few hands, & the Water being in the Soles or bottoms from the declivity of the Strata to the Eastw[ar]d, obliges us to continue the deep Level by J. Nixon &c as p[er] List in order to pick up the remaining fragm[en]ts of Ore & pursue the Vein Eastw[ar]d where it is unexplored – G. Allison &c in the new Level have Cut a strong Vein, but without Ore, & as the Lease binds us to Continue this Level, we shall be obliged to go on to Cut more Veins – At Mannergill J[oh]n Bainbridge &c are driv[ing] the Horse level – Ja[me]s Ainsly &c are open[ing] an old Level in the Vein where Ore will be got by the way which will defray the expense.

      Lodgesyke is doing pretty well, & raises the principal part of the Ore @ 25/ & 37/ p[er] Bing, yet this Vein is like the greatest part of the Veins in Teesdale, uncertain in its Continuance of success- T. Robson &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level.

      At Flakebrig J. Watson &c are Driv[ing] the new Level on Mr Hutchinson’s Manor – The Ore Purchasers seem remarkably Shy this year, there has been no Sales as yet in this Country.

      I am &c

      Tho[ma]s Dodd