Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 30 Sep 1779

To John Ibbetson Esqr                                        		Farnacres 30 Sep'r 1779



Sir

      On the 26 Decem'r last we acquainted the Board that Mr Joseph Hilton had fixed the Boundary between Rampgill Vein belonging to the Hospital and Coal Cleugh Vein belonging to Sir Thomas Blackett Bart. and we then inclosed you one of the Original Memorandums made on the occasion to be lodged with the Hospitals Title Deeds. Some time after this Mr Robert Percival the Governor and Companys Principal Lead Mining Agent in Alston Moor (the Company being the Hospitals Lessees of Rampgill Vein) objected to the fixing of the Stake mentioned in the said Original Memorandums whereupon it became necessary to have some person of Judgement to ascertain the Fact, and as no time was to be lost on Account of the Works of the Hospitals Lessees and Sir Thomas Blackett being so very near each other that it was thought prudent to stop both, we took upon us immediately to name Mr Smeaton to Sir Thomas Blacketts Agent Mr Blackett, as a proper person. He immediately acquiesced and joined in a Letter requesting Mr Smeaton to take the Business upon him, which he was so obliging as do and we have the Satisfaction to inclose the Decision of Mr Smeaton approved by Mr Percival and Mr Dickinson and at the same time to acquaint the Board that the Settlement of this Business by Mr Smeaton is nearly a Medium between Mr Hiltons and Mr Percivals Operations and the difference as to the Decision now and before, tho not material, 

is in favour of Greenwich Hospital, and all Parties perfectly satisfied. Mr Smeatons charge upon the occasion amounted to £35:13:6 one Moiety of which has been paid by Sir Thomas Blackett and the other Moiety by us for the Hospital and we doubt not our proceedings in this Business will meet with the Approbation of the Board. 

      You receive herewith an Account of the Produce from Langley Lead Mill for last year

and Notwithstanding Lead and Silver having fallen very considerably in Price we have the satisfaction to find that this Undertaking has produced the Hospital a Profit of £446:1: 3/4. For the Boards further information in this Business we have inclosed a General Account of the Produce from the outset to the 1st May last when the last years Acco't ended, and also an Acco't shewing the Quantity of Ore raised in the Manor of Alston Moor for Duty &c in Eleven years ending at Mich's 1778; the Quantity of Ore carried to Langley Lead Mill in Eleven years ending 31st December 1778; and the Stock of Ore in Arrear at the Lead Mines in the said Manor after the Ending of the Carriage in 1778, all which you will be please to lay before the Board.

      By the Waggon which sets out from Newcastle for London tomorrow and will arrive in London on Saturday the 16 Inst we send you Original Awards & Plans for Fourstones and Lees Common Divisions, and Plans and a Book containing the Act and Copy of the Award for the Corbridge Division all which you are desired to set before the Board.

      Inclosed you receive a Proposal from Mr. Robert Mallabarr for the Slate Quarries in

Thorngrafton Common in the Barony of Wark. Those Quarries have been Leased by Mr Mallabar for 9 Yrs at the Rent of 6d a Fodder and have only in that time produced to the Hospital the Sum of 10s/- and as the Hospital will have occasion for Slates in that part of the Country and we apprehend the Quantity to be got will be very small we cannot advise Mr 

Mallabarrs Proposal being agreed to.

      Inclosed you have our Cash Accot's for the Months of July and August upon the latter of which there is a Balance of £2379.-.8 in favour of Greenwich Hospital since which we have remitted Mr Edwd Boxley the Treasurers Deputy Bills to the Amount of £1500 with which you'll be pleased to acquaint the Board.

      We are Sir Yours &c 

      N W Junr  J.C.T



PS. An Error having happened in the Printing the Award of the Division of Corbridge Common we are obliged to defer sending it but you will receive the Plans for that Division and the Awards for Lees and Fourstones Divisions as we have mentioned above and in addition to the Several Inclosures referred to in this Letter we send you a Lead Mine Proposal

for the Boards Approbation.