Dukesf’d. 29th March 1777
J. E. Blackett Esq Newcastle
By Mr Morrows of the 22nd inst I find that you want Refined Lead at Blaydon and as this time is the greatest throng in this neighbourhood of sowing their spring corn, am afraid that I can get you very little sent till that throng be over which I expect will be in a fortnights time if the weather prove anything tolerable – I can get none sent now without giving what they call the Winter Price & even then the Quanti
To Mr Darwin Hatton Street Newcas 1st April 1777
London
Sir Your several Letters of the 19th, 22nd, 27 & 28th Ult came duly to hand inclosing a Copy of the several Codicils that were made during the late Sir Walter Blacketts Illness _ An Acco[un]t of your several Quarterly Payments An Account of Sir Walter Blacketts Debts & Legacies and likewise a general account of the same with the late Mr Richmonds Valuation of the Estates
Mr. John Holmes Farnacres 4th April 1777
Dear Sir
I have this day drawn upon you for £182..12..2 being the Amount of 604 ½ Ounces of Bullion at 6s – 1/2d pr Ounce
This Weeks Carrier will bring you, I expect, a Box containing about 640 Ounces of Bullion. I have not yet seen it.
The Bill is pay.ble 30 days after date. I am much hurried in preparing for our Journey on the Rect. of the Hospitals Rents & desire you’ll excuse haste. I am
Dear Sir Your &c
A Copy of A Letter sent Mr Gilbert Alston 7th April 1777
Sir,
I wrote you on the 8th March last desiring you would be so kind as be hear about Ladyday & as I have recd no Answer I take the Liberty of sending this desiring you may be in Alstonmoor as soon as you possibly can, for unless some of the new Works be entered into several Leases will be forfeited indeed nobody can say but that the Agents to Greenwich Hospital has been very favourable in not making the several Leases or Gra
A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Cleaver Alston 7th April 1777
Sir,
I am very wishful to see you & Mr Gilbert here as soon as possible you can & I have this day wrote him to the same purport for unless some of the New Works be entered into several of the Leases will be forfeited but if you was here together may then do as you please only if they should be forfeited & afterwards turn out good I might be blamed. No alterations since I wrote you last we are now only about 3 or 4 f
Dukesfield. 8th April 1777
J. E. Blackett Esq Newcastle
You’ll receive with this a Plate of Silver as per inclosed accot. I have got the Lead started from this Mill at the summer price, it goes bu slowly yet tho I expect it will brisken every day; have delivered of the Refined Lead 650 p<iece>s & hope that the quantity you want at this time will be deliv.d from the mill before the end of the month. I shall be in town soon & then shall know the sorts you would
Mr Darwin Greys Inn Newcas 13th April 1777
London
Sir I received your Letter of the 4th instant acknowledging the Receipt of a Bill for £700 on Sir John Trevelyans account and desiring a Remittance on account of the Quarterly Payments Inclosed you have Messrs. Bell Cookson & Cos bill on Messrs. Castell Whately & Powell for Three hundred & Twenty Pounds to enable you to make the Quar[ter]ly Payments on account of S
Sir Thos. Blackett Bt. at Godfrey Bosville’s Esqr. Newcas 13th April 1777
Great Rufus Street Bloomsbury London
Dear Sir I hope this may find you well in Town Your Leadmine Stewards were here on Tuesday last for Subsistence money for the Workmen I paid £1120 so have not yet had occasion to take up any money at the Bank The Report of the Stewards is that the Mines are much in the same State they were when you was in the North some little Improvements in th
Dukesf’d. 17th April 1777
Mr Morrow Blaydon
Dr Sir
I wrote you on the 8th inst that we had delivered 650 ps of refined lead from this mill & that I would be at Newcastle on the Saturday following & would like to see you there to fix a meeting of the Wainmen - not then seeing you & finding that the lead goes but slowly from the Bankfoot makes me imagine that you have not rec.d my last letter – shall clear the Mill tomorrow of refined lead, & expect before
Miss Carr at Sam[ue]l Rolleston’s Esqr. Old Alresford Newcas 18th April 1777
Hampshire
D[ea]r Madam I received your Letter of the 7th instant desiring to know in whose hands your money is _ Sir John Trevelyan is left sole Executor by the late Sir Walter Blacketts Will & he is desirous of paying off in July next the several Bonds amounting to £1200 with the Int[e]rest due thereon It will be necessar
Mr Robt. Makepeace Goldsmith Newcas. 18 April 1777
Serle Street Lincolns Inn London
Sir I have this day sent you by Robert Cave the London Carrier a piece of fine Silver containing Eight hundred & two Ounces & an half which I desire you will place to account with Sir John Trevelyan Barot. at the Markett price & advise me on your Receipt of it. I am etc J E B.
a p[iec]e fine silver q[uanti]ty 802½ oz at p[er]
Mr. John Holmes Farnacres 27 April 1777
Dear Sir
The London Carrier who set out yesterday will bing you a Box containing 640 ¼ Ounces of [struck out: ‘Bullion’] Fine Silver which hope youll receive safe and are
Yr &c. W & S
To Mr Peter Mulcaster Farnacres 4th May, 1777
Mr Mulcaster
We have reced. yours of the 30th Ulto. and shall return your Rect. for Mrs. Brown’s Rent which you gave when we were at Hexham. The Error you mention shall be rectified the first opportunity. Hope you’ll remember that no new Lead is to be delivered but all the old or Lead of last year and then stop till all is got to Newcastle so as to enable us to make a Lead Carriers pay. If Chrisr Nicholson of Woodhall Mill
A Copy of A Letter to Mr Simpson Alston 4th May 1777
Sir,
As I am very desirous of having the Account of Stanhope Lead Mine from Michs 1775 to Michs 1776 I beg you will send me that Account over to Morrow or early on Tuesday Morning without fail, and I have given Directions to Chrs Walton the Bearer to send George Chapman here with it as soon as it is ready you will therefore not neglect for if it be ever so rough a Copy it will do for me; I propose going to Newcastle the latter end of
Dukesf’d. 7th May 1777
Mr Forster Allanheads
Dr Sir
I reced yours last night by Jno Ridley in regard to meeting Mr Hall at Aldstone on Saturday to settle the Ore Carriage. I do asure you if the meeting was within 20 yds of my own House, that I would not attend it, nor shall while in this office, ever rely anything upon Mr Hall’s agreements from the little trials I have already had of his abiding by them.
The regulating the Carriage to and from the Mills is my pro
Dukesf’d. 7th May 1777
Mr Morrow Blaydon
Dr Sir
I shall meet you & the Wainmen at Mrs Reynaldsons on Wednesday the 14th inst to settle for this years carriage against when I hope you’ll have an proper Article ready
& am Yrs &c IH:Jr
A Copy of a Letter sent Mr Atkinson Stanhope 7th May 1777
Sir,
I have recd a Letter from Mr Gilbert who is appointed by Lord Carlisle & his Lordships Trustees to have the General Inspection of his Lordships Lead Mines that he Mr Gilbert will be here to review his Lordships Works on or about the 20th Inst and as his Letter mentions the Works are intended to be carried forward with good Spirit on his Lordships Account I wish much to have Stanhope Lead Mine Pay made before he co
To Mr. Peter Mulcaster Farnacres 9th. May 1777.
Mr. Mulcaster.
As we cannot properly determine what to do as to the inclosing the Dam at Langley South Common till we have the Measure round the Dam where a Wall or Fence may be fixed we desire you will measure it with a Chain and let us know the first Opportunity how many Chains & Links it is.
The Walling of the Staple as we have mentioned before shall be attended to when Mr. Hilton comes here as also the Nail Rodds.
W
To Mr John Holmes Farnacres 16th May 1777
Dear Sir
We duly reced. your Letters of the 26th Ulto and 10th inst. and this day have drawn upon you at Thirty Days Date for £382:13:4 being the amount of 1280 Ounces of Bullion at 5s/11d ¾ p[er] Ounce.
Ounces
The Bullion wch Arrived with you on the 26th Ulto weighed 639 3/4
Do 10 inst. Weighed 640 3/4
1280
We are Yo
Mr Robt. Makepeace Goldsmith Newcas. 23rd May 1777
Serle Street Lincolns Inn London
Sir I this day sent you by John & James Jackson the London Carriers a piece of fine Silver containing Eight hundred & Eighty nine Ounces & an half which I desire you will place to account with Sir John Trevelyan Barot. at the Markett price & advise me on your Receipt of it. I am etc J E B.
a p[iec]e fine silver q[uanti]ty 889½ o
To John Ibbetson Esqr. Farnacres 27th May 1777
Sir
Inclosed you will receive the Langley Lead Mill Account from the 3d August 1776 to and with the 29th March 1777 upon which there is a profit of £899:19:9 ¼ no Mill Rent being Charged in the present Account which in our Letter accompanying the Mill account of last Year dated the 7th November 1776, we stated was unusual to be allowed in Mining Undertakings; after the outlay with all Interest thereon had been cleared by the prof
Dukesf’d. 28th May 1777
Mr Dickinson Coalcleugh
Dr Sir
I cannot understand why your Wood Carriers should not have the same usage this year as formerly, but least they should abuse the privilage they used to have, have consulted with Walton and we have fixed upon the following manner ie, that each 8 Horses shall carry 6 full Load of Wood to the Mine, to be entitled to Ore for the 8; and so in that proportion for the other No. of Horses. and that they go (while they have the
Dukesf’d. 28th May 1777
Mr Forster Allanheads
Dr Sir
I have consulted with Walton in regard to the Wood Carriage to the mines, and we have agreed to put it upon the following plan – the Wood Carriers to go 3 Days in the Week with Wood so long as they have in their Hands; twice one week to your place and once to Coalcleugh, the succeeding week twice to Coalcleugh & one to your place which he thinks will get up all the Wood, and that each 8 Horses carry 6 full Load of wood t
To Mr Mulcaster Farnacres 30th May 1777
Mr Mulcaster
The Errors in the Operations are all set right so the whole agrees now and we are glad you have found out the Lead that which was short.
Pray Push the Carriers to get all into the Warehouse at Newcastle as fast as possible and amongst the rest Thomas Ions. If any new Lead is delivered before the Old is all sent off it shd be kept separate.
The Memorandum about the Farms cannot yet be got done.
This day we send you
A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Cleaver Alston 31st May 1777
Dear Sir,
I take this first opportunity of acquainting you that Mr. Gilbert left Alston last Wednesday Evening, and as some Memorandums were made when he was with Messrs. Walton & Smeaton I inclose you a Copy in order to shew you how the Lead Mine Undertakings are circumstanced and there appears to be a very good understanding between Messrs. Walton & Smeaton & Mr. Gilbert I hope every matter will be settled in such