Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 2 Dec 1774

Mr Mulcaster.                                       		Farnacres 2nd Decemr 1774



      I have ordered one Dozen of Charcoal to be delivered to you at Langley Mill.  The price it is expected will be 35s.  The quantity 80 Bushels. Ready Money must be paid on delivery.  It must be kept dry.  You will receive directions when Mr Smeaton and I are together which I expect will be shortly.

      Your Letter of the 30th Ulto is now here with the inclosed Operation and Assays.

      Thomas Robson will not dare to do as he threatened and I am sure you need not fear either him or the other Man; what you have ordered respecting Ths R is proper.

      There is no objection to the report as to the Cake which I find is now at Newcastle and whenever you find it most convenient we shall be glad to receive another Cake let it be great or small.

      The more you keep the Smelters at Work the more agreable it will be to myself & Mr Smeaton and therefore what you propose (if it can be done in an agreable manner to the Boys who like Holy days some times) is what wd please us as we hope you will be enabled to get the present quantity of Ore Smelted by the [underlined: ‘middle of April’].  1815 Bings 6 Cwt. No small object.

      I desire you will, in the best manner you can, form a judgement how long the Smelting Bellows we have at present may last according to the rate of going since the Mill started and let Mr Smeaton & me know; at the same time we shd be glad to know particularly how the alteration made by Mr Smeaton, th last time we were at the Mill, answers.    I am

      Your hble Servt

      N W Junr