Letter – Isaac Hunter to Isaac Walton – 8 Mar 1773

       Dukesfd. 8th. March 1773

Mr. Isaac Walton Rookhope Mill	



Sir

       I have sent the Bearer John Noble to supply the place of Jno. Steel who I have taken to this Mill, you may let him work wth. Edwd. Foster till I come over & if we then see that we can fix them otherwise more for the advantage of the Master shall alter them.

       I recd. yours as to the Stephinson’s breaking my Order first, but you do not say whether they run the Lead too hot by it, or not, for it was to prevent that that ca[u]sed the Order, nor do you give any reason for their doing it at this time; wch. I find on inquiring to have been f’m having the Hearth to build – the order never was [struck out: ‘intended’] ment other than to break them of the method they were then got into, & there are no exceptions, by the approbation of the Clerk, & his seeing that the Lead was not run too hot – wch. makes me doubt your complaints of them proceeds more from a private pique or ill-will you have taken to them, than f’m any harm they have don to the Master, and I cannot help telling you, that I am very sorry to think you should make the least use of your Power as Clerk at a Mill in revenging any little private grudge or Peek you may take to any of the Men imployd.   I do assure you that I would discharge every Man f’m the Work reather than they should be under no subjection to the Clerk – but I would not have you to think that I mean other wise than wth. regard to the Business at the Mill, when ever their actions clash wth. the interest of Sr. Walter’s Works 

       and I am sensible tht a Clerk may have his Men in proper subjection & their Esteem at the same time; it gives me no exalted opinion of the conduct of a Clerk, to find him & his Workmen at Variance, for its an certain Axiom wth. me that the Clerk of Smelt Mill who’s plans of carrying on the Work are solely influenced by the intrest of the Master must be a Friend to the Smelters – there’s one thing wch. this reminds me of to desire that you will give order to prevent your Sistr. going to the Mill to find falt wth. the Men. &c  

       IH Jr