Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 20 Jun 1769

To Mr Mulcaster 							Farnacres 20th June 1769

                                                           

Sir

      As you inform us that Duke Forest did not yet get well away with the Litharge Slag and Test Bottoms so as to be ordered back to the Ore Hearth we think it will be proper for you to apply in our Names to Mr Tweddell to see if he can lend us a Man or two to dispatch this Business in the doing of which you will be pleased to Inform him with our Compliments that we shall think ourselves obliged.

      The letting of our Dam is a matter of such consequence & so very prejudicial to us that as it cannot have been done with any other motive than that of doing a prejudice to our Works we are determined to Punish in the severest manner if we can possibly lay hold of the Offenders and for this Purpose we desire that you will get the Affair called at Hexham and Allendale Town Marketts and Haydon Bridge; and at Whitfield Chapels or any other place you see proper a Copy of a Form for that Purpose you have inclosed. As to the Bingsteads observe what we said when last at the Mill which is now your own Opinion; And as to the Affair of the Pig of Lead lost by Pattison we are determined to look very strictly into every fraud in that Article and therefore shall make all the Enquiry we can when we are up in the Country but at present your Information is not Sufficient to ground an Information.

      You are desired to send down Ten Pieces GHRS as soon as you can and you may send down the Remainder of that & Unrefined Slag as you have opportunity.

      With regard to the Assay Furnace as you say it may be done without hazard of Fire the sooner you get an Assay Furnace fixed in the Office the better; there is no need to disturb the other in the Refinery.

      We are your Hble Servts.

             		Nich Walton Junr.

                           J Smeaton





Whereas some Evil Minded Person or Persons has or have from Time to Time drawn up the Sluice of the Dam made at the Level Mouth of Stublick Colliery for the purpose of collecting Water for the Works at Langley Lead Mill whereby the said Works have been greatly Injured This is to give Notice that any Person giving information of the Offender or Offenders so as he she or they be convicted of the said Offence shall receive a Reward of Five Guineas from Messrs Walton & Smeaton