Letter – John Westgarth to Judith Baker – 23 Mar 1778

Dear Madm.

      I have your favour of the 5 Inst. I have now with me some of our people who are employed at Burnsheelhaugh mines. Your agent Wm. Teasdall is out of health, and not at present able to atten[d the] mine, and by what I am told is not in a hopeful [way] of recovery. I writ him some time since to order the Gin keeper to put the Gin in proper order, &c; had no answer.

      Your Men are I presume upon Wages, that <&no ispection> will not answer for you. In the Agreement between your Husband & me we were to be at half the Expense in Sinking the Ingen [Engine] wch. we are ready to Undertake. It will be of advantage to you, Equal or more so than to us, but as the Ingen at present is kept the low Stand of Pumps are not used &c, this should have been done before your drifts from our Ingen foot was set out, You might by that have got some fathoms more level, & by Sinking two fathom more got a chance of a new Sill. Can say more was I with you & you <sought it>. Am sure should have saved you a large Sum of money. I cannot venture such a Journey <in> the Extreme frost and large falls of Snow upon the moor (wch. are now dissolving) could not Attempt to cross them to the mine. If you think that the sinking the Ingen should be done, it must be begun & finish’d before the dry Weather sets in, & takes from us the day water.

      I shall  order our Agent to give an Eye to what’s going forward at your works till I can get over, he’s a judge & could inspect both for a trifle more & may have much pay <.. a year> for yr. agent.

      Compts. to yourself, & Son, believe me Dr. Madm. Yr. most Out. Servt>

      Jno Westgarth

Mrs Baker