Letter – George Pantoune to Nicholas Walton – 25 Feb 1740

      Harbert Law  February 25th 1739

To Mr R. Horn, 11th March 1739/40 Original sent.



Dear Sir,

	I reced. yours of the 12 Inst. with the £50 by Roben Dickinson for which I thank you, as I do if you will Hon<ou>r my Bill for £50 more at Ladyday which I shall draw payable to John Friend  or order.

	I have Likewise reced. Yours of the 4th as per my last, Mr McDowells Lease is not yet come to hand, Howsoon it does I shall send it for your Perusall, The farm Dues is 1/9th p<ar>t  & I doubt not but the other Clauses in the the<sic> Lease will be agreeable & as to the Situation of the Country Mr Boag can give you a better accot. of it than I, it Lys within 2 miles of the West Sea; & till the Mines raises Ore Enough to Defray the Charge of Smelting (I mean Building Smelt Mills) you may sell it at a good price to the Smelters in Flintshire or you may Rent a Mill there within 100 Rood of the Navigation, & as near Coal, & so smelt it there yourself. Coal and Lime will be Der in Galloway, but Peat & Timber will be gott Cheap Enough & all the Build<in>g you will nead for making a Tryall of the Mine (Smelt Mills Excepted) may be raised for about £10.     As the Country is untryed I can’t say much as to prospect only there is (as Mr Boag can Inform you) very Likely Veins appears to the day, of Sparr & Ridder, & I think Levells may be gott at a Moderate Expence, but to Compute the Charge till we know what we have to Drive in, its what I cannot pretend to doe, one Vein I opened about 3 fathom Deep & the farther we sunk the more likely this appeared, as the workmen Informed me, but I never was down the water being up when I was there, but all the worke they had Drawn up was Ridder 7 sparr and answered the accot. the workmen gave of the vein, it being as wide as the Shaft. If we set on work in April when I goe over, this Summer will make a great Tryall and the Charge can’t be much in that time.

	Ropes & iron &c must be gott from Whitehaven or Liverpool & will come at a moderate price.

	Inclosed I send a Rec.t for the Last £50  -  please to give Roben his. I set out for London to Morrow if you have any Comands Direct for me at Forrests Coffey House Charing Cross or at Mr Hayleys in Bedford Row give my service to Mr Boag & I am

      Dr Sir Your most Humb. Servt.

      George Pantoune



To Mr Nicho’s Walton