Letter – Henry Richmond to Isaac Hunter – 31 May 1771

To  Mr Isaac Hunter at Dukesfield                                         Newcas.   31st May 1771



Sir      By the Accot. I have rec[eiv]ed from the Lead mines for the year ending 31 Dec. 1770 there have been 5764 B 1½ h of ore delivered to Dukesfield Mill, 1362 B 1h to Allanheads, & 4823 B 3h to Rookhope Mill,  in all 11950 B 1½ h.  And by the Accot. I have received from you for the said year the quantity rec[eiv]ed at Dukesfield Mill is 5691 B 3½  h, at Allanheads 1436 B 1½h and at Rookhope Mill 4830 B 2½ h - in all 11958 B 3½ h which is 8B 2h more than were delivered from the Mines in the year.  But what is worse than this, is the Disparity between the Delivery to and the receipts at the several Mills, as you will see by comparing what I have mentioned of the above Accots. for the Receipt at the Dukesfield Mill is 62B 2h short of the delivery from the Mines - the receipt at Allanheads Mill is 74B 0½h over the Delivery and the receipt of Rookhope Mill is also 6B 3½h over (Mr Walton makes it 10B 1½h over by his gen[era]l Accot.)     I could wish to have these disagreem[en]ts accounted for  -  & for the future desire you will give some attention to the closing these Accots. of the Ore, on the 31st of Dec[embe]r yearly, as accurately as possible.  For that being the day on which I bring these Matters to a Comparison in Sir Walter’s Books it would look better to have them a little evener than they have been this last year.  indeed I doubt some of the Carriers have been hoping to get pay for ore as if it had been delivered at Dukesfield Mill, tho they left it at Allanheads Mill; otherwise how can there be such a Difference as 62B 2h short at the former & 74B 0½h over at the latter?    I have sold above 10000 ps. of Lead already, so shall have occasion for all your diligence in forwarding the quantities to Market from all the Mills.   PS  As there must be plenty of ore at the several Mills by this time, I hope the Smelters are hard at Work  -  & desire the slags may be worked up regularly & not suffered to run in Arrear.  pray get the Carriers to Allanheads Lead as soon as possible.                 I am etc    HR