Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 22 May 1787

Messrs Mulcaster 							Farnacres 22nd May 1787



       We have rec[eive]d your Letters of yesterday with Mattw. Temperley’s 2 last Weeks Coal Accounts.

       We have not yet had time to make any computation concerning the Trial you have made as to the Litharge, and we think it will perhaps be the best way to defer making and calculations ‘til we get the result of your next weeks Experiments, and if you have kept the Litharge Slags which you weighed in this last Trial to 10cwt 2qu 6lb, we sh[oul]d like to have not only them, but what you get from your intended succeeding Trial, smelted in the same manner as your last experiment of smelting Litharge Slags. We observe what you say respecting the Litharge Casks and are sorry you have been so much put about by waiting for them. It certainly will be proper to put in the Bungs either with Paper or some kind of Canvas or Cloth and you must do the best you can ‘til we see whether we can make an absolute Agreement with Mr Fishwick or not, a thing we can by no means speak with confidence about yet.

       The Eight Assays you sent in are come to hand.

       We are concerned to hear of <Ann> Brown’s Behaviour, but why did not you mention this to Mr Walton when he was as the Mills? We inclose you a Letter which we desire you will read, and afterwards seal and send to Mrs Brown, and if it sh[oul]d not have the desired effect, you will let us know, and we will act as we have therein set forth.

       Perhaps the Less we say about Stublick Colliery the better, but it is a Fact beyond all possibility of contradiction that the Gain to Greenwich Hospital for these two years past has been no more than £4:10:8½. If you think it right, you may say that you know the Colliery has produced very little profit for these two years past & that you are sure the profit within that time has been under £10. We are

       Your H[umb]le Servants

       Walton & Turner