Report – Thomas Dodd – 23 Jan 1808

Hon. Masters						Nenthead 23rd Jany. 1808



	Having examined the Company’s Mines under my direction, I Let on the 4th, 5th & 6th Inst. the sundry Bargains, of which a List is herewith sent.

	I have brought the highest price per Bing to 44/ & Ton to £12, except a few poor pickings at Stanhope & one at Bolts Law. The poverty of the former is such that they cannot be Wrought lower, nor can the Men make Wages at the prices given, but the Ore will save the Company from loss - The latter can do nothing but harm. - I have reduced the hands on the Dead Work List from 162 on the Mich. Bargains to 104, which makes a difference of 58, & have only kept in sight the preservation of the Leases, - under these Circumstances, I flatter myself the Business at large will do well, although Poverty begins to stare this Country very much in the face, & the general murmur of the laboring Class renders the lives of Public Men very troublesome.

	Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss are both doing well, but especially Scaleburn New Vein.

	Wm. Wharton & co are repairing a Level to bring the Water off the uppermost part of Rampgill Mine, & Rich. <Rains> & co are Driving the Deep Horse Level.

	At Scaleburn New Vein Thos. Humble & co are Sinking a Sump which will shortly be finished, when they will raise Ore. J. Hunter & co are Sinking a Shaft from the Surface, to promote a general Circulation of Air thro’ the said Mine, & also for trying the Vein in the little Limestone & Coal Sills.

	Middle Cleugh is poor, but the Dead Works being much reduced, the Mine of course will be kept from loss. Jno. Eddy & Tho. Armstrong & co are each driving a Horse Level in different Veins.

	Small Cleugh Mine (especially the Flatts) is doing vastly well - Wm. Richardson & co are making a fresh Cut from the Vein to the Flatts, where we expect a considerable body of Ore, & that of the best quality - J. Stobbart & co are Driving the Engine Level which is the general drain, both to Small Cleugh & Middle Cleugh Veins.

	Garrigill & Tynebottom Mines are still poor, but we flatter ourselves that some parts under Tryal will shortly prove successful - We have put these places under the most frugal arrangements.

	At Browngill Sun Vein Jas. Lancaster & co are Sinking a Sump in a fresh part of the Mine, which will soon be finished, & will then we hope raise a good quant[it]y of Ore. Is. Teesdale & co at Tynebottom are driving the Horse Level to prepare the Vein for Trial. At Browngill Wm. Thomason & co are Driv[in]g the Horse Level.

	Middlehope Mine in Weardale continues to do well, & under the present prices will be successful.- Chr. Maddison & co are Driving the Horse Level, which prepares the Vein & Flatts for raising Ore - T. Gleason & co are Sink[ing] a Sump, both for raising Ore & a Circulation of Air.

	At Broomsberry Thos. Walton & co are Driving a Horse Level, which goes at an easy expense, & is expected to prove beneficial when the Vein is Cut in the upper Stratum, & it is probable before the expiration of the present Year that some Ore will be raised here.

	Robt. Dickinson & co at Caple Cleugh are Driving the Horse Level:- This mine is poor but holds out a better prospect when the Level arrives at a certain point of the Mine.

	At Ireshopeburn Jno. Kidd & co are Driving the deep Level which prepares the Vein for Trial, & tho’ the Vein is poor will be attended with no loss. - At Stanhopeburn Thos. Wilkinson & co are Driving the Horse Level which will shortly Cut a fresh Vein. - Lodgesyke is raising Ore to advantage, but the other Mines in Teesdale are poor. Thos. Robson & co are Driving the Horse Level which drains the Mine, is the common passage for the Ore & Rubbish, & prepares the Vein for raising Ore.

	At Mannergill Chr. Pinkney & co are Driving an upper Horse Level, which will enable us to raise Ore in the Vein near the Surface - Jno. Nixon & co are driving the Horse Level in the Vein, which drains the Mine & is in different senses beneficial to the Working of the same - Geo. Allison & co are Driving the deep Level for Discoveries.

	Age creeps upon me, & I feel Visiting the Teesdale Mines in the Winter Season oppressive, & if the Court would relieve me I would thank them, but sho[ul]d this not meet their Approbation, I will endeavour to struggle on a little longer. 

      I am etc  Thos. Dodd