Letter – Jonathan Hilton to John Gilbert – 25 Aug 1777

A Copy of A Letter sent Mr Gilbert				Alston 25th Augt 1777



Sir,

      Mr Sellers is now here & our report of the present state of Lord Carlisle’s Lead Mines you have as follows

      The 15 Fathoms Let to Willm Willis & Partrs to Drive the forebreast in the North Vein at Stanhope at 30 sh p Fathm & 30 sh p Bing was finished the Day after Mr Sellers arrived at Stanhope but no Vein cut & was much harder in the last Two fathms than what it was in Driving the other 13 fathms. We Let them 10 fathms more or till they cut a Vein at 60 sh p fathm & 30 sh p Bing. Mr Sellers says the Vein is now more kindly than she was & has better Ore, hopes we are near cutting the Shieldherst Vein. In the Crosscut taken out of Stobb’s working in Greys Vein we expected to cut Sandersons String & a Vein South of the Quakers Vein. We have cut three strings all with Ore in them but not so as to Work by Bing. On the 7th Ult I mentioned my letting a Bargain to Mattw Stobbs & Partnrs which Bargain was Let them the 4th of April last and put out when you were at Stanhope; but now stands as it was first Let to sink a Shaft at their own expence, and after cutting the Vein to have 40 sh p Bing for Six Months or 45/- p Bing for 3 Months, and in sinking 4½ fathoms they came to as a Working as we ever had at Stanhope its only three Weeks since they came to Ore & Mr Sellers thinks they have raised 10 Bings & as the Workings is promising we thought it advisable to agree with them for a certain Length of ground, as follows 15 Fathoms to the West & 10 Fathoms to the East and to go no deeper than the sole of their present Drift which about one fathom from the top of the Limestone Sill: and to give them 40/- p Bing for all the Ore they raise in the above Length. The other Ore workings are all very poor.

Greengill – Nothing or very little could be done at the forebreast since my last for want of Air: Boxes has had no Good Effect the Drift going up to Air her will not be finished in less than a Month: In the Crosscut taken out betwixt the Little Limestone & Pattinsons Sill at Greengill West End Vein near Bentyfield we expected to cut Bentyfield on Greengill West End Vein by Driving 12 fathms and have Drove 22 fathms and not cut the Vein but thinks we are now near the Vein as their was a small string cut the other Day & the Drift much harder; the above is the best & truest Account we can at present give.

      We are, Sir, Your Most Obedt Hble Servts

      J.H. & J.S.



Mr Walton came here on the 17th Instant & stayed four Days, he said he had recd a Letter from you mentioning you had full Power from Lord Carlisle and that he had given you an Answer, Mr Walton desired me to let you know that he hoped to hear from Mr Smeaton soon, fixing the time of his being here which Mr Walton supposed would be about the beginning of October and so soon as Mr Walton knows he will acquaint you, and it will be very agreeable both to the Agents of Greenwich Hospital and us if the Time of Messrs Walton & Smeaton being in Alstonmoor can be a convenient time for you to give them a meeting.