Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 13 Apr 1778

To Mr. Mulcaster						London 13th April 1778.



Mr. Mulcaster

      Having a little time in hand I now sit down to acknowledge the Recet. of yours of the 19th, 25th, & 31 January, 3d, 4th, 14, 25, and 26 February and 2d Ulto. since which none of your Letters have been sent me.

      I am obliged to you for the trouble you had, about Margt. Jackson as also about Fourstones & Walwick Grange and for your Information therein.

      The several Circumstances you mention concerning the reducing shew certainly that the Workmen are ignorant but I hope by the time I get to Langley Mill I shall hear that we have improved in that Branch and I shall be glad to find our new Colliery is likely to be of use at the Lead Mill.

      The Bricks & Clay you acknowledge the Rect. of & I doubt not you received the Iron Pot in due time.

      The Silver you mentioned in your Letter of the 25th. of February came safe to hand & is now in London& I hear there is another Box now at Newcastle or on the Road for London.

      I am sorry to find Rampgill ore falls short; if there shd. appear to be any thing unfair by which we are taken advantage of, a severe Example, will be necessary: but we must take care to be clear in our Ground.   In proceeding with the Paragraph which occasioned my taking Notice of the falling short, I have the Pleasure to find this Matter is likely to turn out more agreably than I expected.

      The Accident to Thomas Falls Filley I am concerned at, but it cannot be helped now; and as it seems necessary to be as guarded as possible I have recommended that the two Farms at Langley Castle shd. be in one and Falls new Pasture reserved for Langley Mill, & this I flatter myself will answer the End, as it will give an Opportunity of changing the Cattle from one Situation to another as occasion may require, so as to keep them from the Ground at times when affected or rather infected by the Smoke.   The Board of Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital much approve of Letting the two farms in one and letting the Ground lately inclosed for the Use of Langley Mill, so that I hope we shall be in a better Situation after this new Regulation takes place than ever we were before.

      I shall be glad to hear Mr. Thornton has employed the men you mention, but if they expected too high a Price, he was undoubtedly right in what he did tho’ perhaps Brown and Telford might behave ill to the rest.

      I expect to set forward from hence about Saturday or Sunday next or perhaps it may be Monday and I desire to see you at Farnacres on Sunday the 26 Inst at Dinner unless you hear from me again to the Contrary: <tho ….> Dinner I shall wish you to be at Farnacres on the Sunday Morning.   I am

Yours &ca.

      N:W: Junr.



PS I have the great Satisfaction to acquaint you that Mr. Ibbotson, Mr. Hicks, & Mr. Stuart have all asked after you & glad they have made you happy by adding to your Salary.