Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 10 Dec 1771

Mr Mulcaster							Farnacres 10th December 1771



      I received your Letter of the 10th inst inclosing the Operation for last Month which so far as I can judge is quite right in every respect.

      In my last I desired you might not do anything til you came here, as to the Walling the Shaft but if there should be any inconvenience in not getting it done immediately I would have you proceed and you may take any Stones you can get at the old Peat House. I desire none of Dilston old Wood may be used in it but that you will consult with and get Mr Laybourne to cut you a Tree (by Mr Bells permission) which will answer the round of the Shaft.

      If you can get the Wall done at 5s P Rood it will do very well I however doubt you will not get it done for that. Tho we are always against things being expensive yet we wish to have all our Works done in a substantial manner & I mention this to you that you may attend to that and if necessary add a little to the Price abovementioned.

      By no means ommit trying the Staward Stones; if they should answer it will be a great convenience to have them so near.

      The Tryal of drying the Coals has most undoubtedly been attended with risk to the whole Buildings at the Refinery & therefore let it be laid aside til we fix whether to have a little Kiln on purpose or not.

      With regard to the Rampgill Ore I dare say you are doing every thing that is proper and the washing it is plain must be continued.

      As to the Affair of the running over of Middlecleugh Ore it must certainly be owing to a quantity of some other kind of Ore being turned over into the Bingstead where it laid indeed I cannot imagine it to be in any other way and youll probably find some other Ore fall Short.

The Account of Lead delivered came safe to hand with the above Letter.

      When Mr Smeaton and I were at Hexham we heard that the Persons who were employed at Fallowfield in running their Slags were at or about a finish there at the same time it was intimated to as that it was likely they might be got to Langley Mill if we had occasion. The matter resting thus we desire you will consider and let us know whether you think we are in such a situation at present with our Slag Men as to make it prudent for us to continue as we are; or whether it may not be proper to make a Tryal of those Men in case they can be had. You may, it is not at all unlikely, have heard how they have done at Fallowfield and whether, besides an immediate advantage, there may not be a prospect of our learning something from them. You will see it necessary to make some enquiries about this Affair in which Mr Robert Allgood will assist you and I am sure I need not caution you to do this prudently. I am

      Your Hble Servt

      N W Junr