Report – Thomas Dodd – 29 Jul 1807

      Nenthead 29th July 1807

Hon[oure]d Masters				

      After tak[in]g a General Survey as usual of the Company’s Mines under my Care, I let on 25th, 26th, & 27th past the Bargains, of which a List is annexed. Agreeable to the Courts orders I have reduced the prices of all Bargains & of course the number of hands is much reduced, as many of the poor pickings cannot be Wrought at the prices now given, & upon the whole the Business has been difficult. – Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss are both doing well – Jos[eph] Blalock &c are Driv[ing] a Level upon the great Limestone & will soon Sink into the Vein – W[illia]m Wharton &c are repair[ing] a Level as a necessary convenience to the Mine.  At Scaleburnmoss Jos[eph] Hall &c are Driv[ing] the deep Level, which is the general drain to the Mine – T. Hewitson &c are Cutting across to the Vein in the great Limestone – J. Hunter &c are Sink[ing] a Shaft upon the N. Vein & Successful.

      SmallCleugh Mine is Working to advantage – W[illia]m Richardson &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level to prepare the Vein & Flats for rais[ing] Ore – J. Stobbart &c are Driv[ing] the Engine foot Level which drains the whole Mine – W[illia]m Cousin &c are Sink[ing] a Sump in the great Limestone to cause a Circulation of fresh Air thro’ the Mine.

      MiddleCleugh is poor & the n[umber] of Men reduced R. Briggs &c are driv[ing] one of the Horse Levels, which opens a Communicatioon with the Vein – J[oh]n Patrick &c are Sink[ing] a Sump & will soon try the Vein – Mat[thew] Cousin &c are Cutting across to prove the Vein in the little Limestone. –

      HangingshawCross Vein is poor, but will raise Ore so as to be kept from loss – R. Readshaw &c are Driv[ing] a Level to drain the Vein of Water. – T. Walton &c are Driv[ing] an upper Level at Broomsberry & Gudamgillmoss, which will open the vein afresh in the <bear[ing]> Strata, where we shall meet with Ore & put that part of the Mine in a Work State which has long laid dormant. –

      Garrigill Mines are still in a poor State & the number of Men much reduced. – I have put these Mines as well as all others of the Company’s Works under the most frugal arrangem[en]ts

in my power, being fully persuaded that the appearance of the pres[ent] times requires the utmost Caution & Circumspection in Mining Concerns: – Jos[eph] Lancaster &c are Sinking a Sump, which when finished will greatly relieve Broning S. Vein – At Tynebottom T. Bell &c are Sink[ing] a Sump & will soon finish – W[illia]m Thomason &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level & J[ame]s Teasdale &c are Sink[ing] a Sump into the great Limestone. –

      Lodgesyke (Teesdale) This Mine is hopeful & raises ore to advantage – T. Robson &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level & J[oh]n Gelding &c are Sinking a Shaft to prove the Vein on unexplored Ground. – 

      Wiregill is become very poor & employs few hands – J. Nixon &c are driv[ing] the Horse level, which will drain the Vein Eastw[ar]d where it is unwrought & I hope in future will raise a good deal of Ore – G. Allison &c are Driv[ing] the deep Horse Level.

      Mannergill is poor & will scarcely be saved from loss, but the necessary trials shall be carefully Conducted Ja[me]s Ainsly &c are driv[ing] the Horse Level & J[oh]n Bainbridge &c are driv[ing] an upper Level for the relief of, & prov[ing] the Vein in the upper Strata. – J. Watson &c are driv[ing] the new Level at Flakebrigg. – Middlehope Mine still does well, but employs fewer hands on acc[oun]t of the reduct[ion] of prices – R. Elliot &c are driv[ing] the deep Level as a  general drain to the Mine. – Cha[rle]s Maddison &c are driving the Horse Level & Tho[ma]s Gleason &c are driv[ing] an upper Level & will shortly Sink a Sump to try the Vein. – J. Kidd &c are driv[ing] the level at Ireshopeburn & John Johnson &c the Horse level at Coldberry. –

      I am sorry to say that the Lead & Ore Markets look worse & worse; there has not been a pound of Ore sold in the Moor, & the little petty Comp[anies] are all nearly at a stand, not being able to sell their Ore, nor have they either Money or Credit, of course this Country will shortly be in a poor situation. – Mr Tilson will give the Court the Contents of the Trial with Easterby Hall & Co. This Business has prevented me from send[ing] this Acc[oun]t sooner.

      I am &c

      Tho[ma]s Dodd