Letter – Nicholas Walton to Hugh Boag – 17 Oct 1736

Mr Boag                                                                   Ravensworth Castle  Octor 17th 1736

	Thank you for yours from Darlington the Contents of wch shall be taken care of

	I send you inclosd the abstract of Severall biddings for Last week as also a coppy of my letter to Mr Corbett this post

	You have also as follows a paragraph in my letter to the Colonell this day occasioned by a Conversation I had wth Mr Ellison upon a paragraph in the Colonells Letter to him wherein he says he thinks the receivers should recomend it to the Directors to reserve a liberty of erectg Salt Panns etc Coales for their Tennants -



On Considerg the advantage of Salt works at Scremerston I am of Opinion it wd be a beneficial undertakg better Scituated for Coale than any part of the kingdom that I know of & that being the materiall article in makg Salt there can’t but be a great Savg.  The Small Coales at Scremerston are now Sold at 16d per Fother & Supposing a keel of Coales to be abt 24 Fothers it wd Stand as followeth   Viz



24 Fothers of Coales at 16d                 £1.12. -

Leading by Waggons Each to hold <3 Fother>      2. 8

Way Keepg per Ten 6d or per Keel                2. 2

   One Keel of Coales at Scremerston         1.16.10



A Keel of Coales at Shields at 5/ per Cha    2. 4. -

Keelyre & Carting                               7. -

Boat rent abt                                   2. 6

Expence of coals at Screm less than Shields £-.16. 8



and Supposing 3/2 Tunns of Salt to one Keel there is a savg of 4/6 per Tunn, but If the Colliery Coud be taken by the Salt Proprietor then he might save 4/3 per Tun more as the Coales may be wrought at 10s per Fother.  If you are <Tied> as I suppose you are by the partnership Article that you can’t take that Colliery yourself I do not know but it may be a good project for the partnership to come into.  I mean the Colliery & erection of Salt works together.  I do not know Sr but in that verry Salt may be made 10s per Tun Cheeper than at Shields & If so there Could not fail great consumption & profit

	

      Inclosed you have a Sketch of that part of Scremerston in which the Colliery is wth Amos Barns Opinion thereon  Your family are all well  I am Quite Lanter’d & I am

                                                                    Yr verry Humble Servt    Nichs Walton



Severall people have been wth me wantg their answers therefore pray Spurr up the Directors to Confirm Speedily.  I hope to meet wth the Confirmacons at my return from Keswick wch will be the 21st Inst or 1 Novr.  I am very glad you have Compy