the State of the Mines set out by the Committee doth sufficiently shew as also that Mr. Waller since that time hath erected convenient Houses to Entertain One hundred and fifty Miners on that barren desolate Mountain where the Mines lye that the constant and punctual Payments hath encouraged the Country to bring Provisions to them that the Works have been carried on Night and Day with fresh Men every eight hours And although Mr. Waller never proposed in his Essay to set the Works in order under a Year yet he is now working in Oar in the Bog Vein and does expect to be raising Oar in many more places before the year is expired and had not the Rocks proved excessive hard which is all the difficulty we have hitherto met with we had in all probability carried our Levels to Oar in many places before this time Ld. A. But Sir you have now put me in mind of a great difficulty indeed for some are so confident as to say that the Rocks are so very hard you will never be able to get through them Merch. No! that 's hard indeed but my Lord it 's plain we have got through them in some places and that we have got into the heart of them in many other so that they are not unconquerable Ld. B. But does not this Difficulty much discourage you Merch. No my Lord not at all for it is a constant Observation amongst all Miners that the harder the Rock the richer the Mine Nature generally makes the Case stronger or weaker according to the richness of the Treasure therein contained for wherever the sides of a Vein are crack'd and broken the Mineral Water that feeds the Vein runs off and the Vein proves dead or very poor But when the sides of a Vein are solid and firm without cracks the Mineral Feeder impregnates and enriches the Mine and the same proves quick and rich in Oar. Ld. A. What you say is very rational I confess but yet from the hardness of the Rocks there is a great delay and loss of time Merch. My Lord with humble submission I can't allow that any time is lost that we never proposed to save I own that if Mr. Waller does not get through these hard Rocks by the latter end of May next as he proposed then we may be said to loose all the time beyond May and yet if the Veins do happen to prove at last much richer than he proposed it will be no loss at all but an Advantage Dr. I must beg leave on this occasion to take notice that I have observed all along in this Undertaking a very great and particular Providence beyond what is common and ordinary in other Cases I have had an account by how many strange accidental Occurrences these Mines came to the knowledge and afterwards to the management of those Persons under whose Hands the first part of this Undertaking did so wonderfully prosper It was not without admiration that I saw so many Persons of different Parties Sexes and Interests amongst the old Partners entirely agree to refer all their Controversies and Law-Suits to the determination of a Person that was a meer Stranger to them when the dissent of any one Member had destroyed the whole Undertaking I say the sight of that Grand Settlement of the Mine-Adventure signed and Sealed by so many Persons of different Qualities and Interests dispersed over the whole Kingdom did not raise in me a common or ordinary Notion of the thing Neither was it without some wonder that I beheld such an Undertaking set forth in the dead time of a Long Vacation when the Town was empty and many monied Men gone into the Country to prosper to so high a degree that Mr. Neale declared he never saw such crowding for Subscriptions before That new Adventurers of all Ranks and Qualities should agree in the same Opinion about it Lords Bishops Members of Parliament Divines Merchants and Lawyers in all Parts of the Kingdom That all things that seem'd at first to be an obstruction even the very Differences in the Family of the Proprietor tended at last to the promoting of it And therefore I must confess I am inclined to believe that even this particular Accident of the hardness of the Rocks will also some way or other tend to the Advantage of the Unkertaking Ld. A. I confess there has been several remarkable Passages in this Undertaking and besides what you have mentioned the drawing of it so very fair the appropriating so considerable a part of the Profits to Charitable uses the Establishing so good a Constitution the management of it with so much Care and Exactness in relation to the Accounts and with such Frugality as to the main Stock the vigorous prosecution of the Works and the great Purchases so lately made by the Committee all this induces me to have a very good Opinion of the Undertaking that it is founded on an honest Bottom and that it will be prosperous in time But I confess I can't understand how the hardness of the Rock can tend to the Advantage of the Undertaking unless by keeping in the Mineral Feeder within the firm sides and so making the Veins richer as that Gentleman has observed Dr. My Lord I humbly conceive that there is nothing can conduce more to the advantage of any Undertaking then an entire Union and good Agreement amongst the Partners and there is no large Companies but may have some uneasie Members amongst them Now is it not an Advantage to have them out Ld. A. I understand you Sir and so you fancy that this Noise about the hardness of the Rocks may make some uneasie impatient Members sell out and Men of better Temper come in their places Dr. I do so my Lord and for my part I have never had any Apprehension that this Undertaking could any ways miscarry but by some disagreement amongst the Partners Merch. I hope there can be no manner of danger of that since we have certainly as good a Constitution for the management of the Mines as any Company in England can have for indeed it is composed of the best part of all their Constitutions and I never saw any Company more unanimous in all my Life which I confess is a very great Encouragement to me to venture my Money amongst them Ld. A. You know it is a Maxim Concordiâ parvae Res crescunt Discordiâ magnae dilabuntur 't is all your Interests to preserve this good Temper amongst you But pray Sir is the Estate in Law of the Mines vested in the Adventurers Merch. No my Lord the Estate in Law is vested in Trustees of great Worth and Integrity who are to permit and suffer the Partners to receive the Profits and to manage the Mines according to the Constitution before-mentioned Ld. A. That was well contrived Merch. Nay my Lord we have been so careful to do every Person Right and Justice that there is a Clause in the great Settlement That in Case
being just a Year from the time he went down to the Mines Ld. A. I thought he had proposed it much sooner I am sure I have heard some Persons say so Merch. I remember that an eminent Counsel being charged with giving an Opinion that did not hold good in Westminster-Hall asked the Gentleman where he gave such an Opinion for he did not remember it nor could he find his Name in his Book of Fees No says the Gentleman but if you remember Sir I met you on the Road between Worcester and London and put this Case to you That might be indeed says the Lawyer had you no more wit than to try your Cause upon a Travelling Opinion So I doubt this might be a sudden Opinion from Mr. Waller He is a Sanguine Man and such Men are apt to believe what they mightily wish for and yet I fancy he never gave such an Opinion but with his usual Precaution in case the Rocks under Ground did not prove harder than they were at that time But since they did and to such a degree of hardness that whereas the Miners then made good Wages upon a Bargain of Thirty shillings a Fathom they can now scarce make their Wages at Six pounds a Fathom I think we should be as hard upon him as the Rocks are if we should tye him up to more than he deliberately proposed in his Essay Ld. B. Truly I think so too and he does very fairly if he keeps that Time for I seldom knew a Master-builder that promised to build a House in a Year ever finish it under two some unlucky Accident or other frequently falls out beyond Expectation to delay the Work though at last he may finish a very stately Pile of Building and give very good Content Merch. Your Lordship observes very well But in this Case we have reason to believe Mr. Waller will use his utmost Endeavours because his Salary is to arise out of the Profits of the Mines And I find by his Letters he has a good heart still he tells the Committee That if they 'l have a little patience he doubts not but to shew them Welsh Potozi more glorious than they expect or he ever promised Ld. A. Considering all Circumstances how deeply he adventures himself and how he still stands his ground I must confess I can't but think he believes he shall make a great Thing of it but yet I perceive many Persons do not fancy those high Expressions I think his Forty pounds a year for every Share did him no great kindness Merch. That Matter has indeed been the most exposed by our Adversaries about Town of any thing for many Persons taking things upon common Fame without reading over the Essay and Proposals at large really thought that the Adventurers were to have Forty pounds per Annum for every Share presently without any more ado whereas Mr. Waller did only write an Essay on the value of the Mines not a positive Valuation and there offers to the old Partners with all due submission to better Judgment his Opinion thereof together with his Reasons at large for the same that they might themselves Judge of the Validity of them by all which he does indeed seem to demonstrate to my poor Capacity that in time with a large Stock and good Management the Mines may be brought to an extraordinary great value and then it 's observed that at the highest valuation every Share will be worth Forty pounds per Annum But Mr. Waller positively declares in the very Entrance of his Essay pag. 6. That he expected one year to put the Works in order and even then though a considerable Profit might be made yet he did not pretend under some years more to bring the Works to the highest valuation that is to Forty pounds a year for every Share But what he means by some years I cannot tell nor I believe he can but guess himself for all that depends on Accidents under Ground and on the Management by the Partners But here is nothing that could lead any rational Person that read this Book into an Expectation of having Forty pounds a year presently Ld. A. No certainly But is there nothing in the other Proposals that could lead the World into this mistake Merch. No my Lord it is so far from that that all those Papers even the printed Lists at the Drawing where the Publishers that agreed with the Clerks for the Copy put it in to make the Lists sell the better for their own Profit all refer to the said Essay and although Mr. Waller's Valuation was very proper to be taken notice of upon such an Occasion yet the value of the Mines in all the Proposals of the Mine-Adventure is expresly set at less than a fourteenth part of Mr. Waller 's Calculation which perhaps is as much too little as the other is thought too great Ld. B. That was very cautiously done indeed and sufficient to prevent such a Mistake but if Persons will buy an Estate and never look over the Writings 't is their own fault if they expect more than they ought But pray Sir will nothing less than Forty pounds a year presently for every Share serve their turn How much is that per Cent. profit Merch. Forty pounds a year at Ten years Purchase for a Lease of One and twenty years is worth Four hundred pounds and I think a Share was valued at that time at Twenty pounds or thereabouts and at that rate the gain from every Share must have been Two thousand pounds for every hundred pounds adventured Ld. A. A very modest and reasonable expectation especially for such Persons who were to run no hazard in the Adventure for even the Unfortunate it seems were to be repaid their Principal Money adventured with Interest at Six pounds per Cent. Merch. They were so But I don't find that any of the Adventurers did expect such a present Profit but our Adversaries abroad have raised this Notion on purpose to make themselves merry and ridicule this Undertaking Ld. B. I remember a great General when he was told that the conquered Party made very severe Songs upon him instead of being in a Passion replied with Contempt Fye don't take notice of it you must give the poor Rogues leave to be merry So since you are satisfied you have got the advantage of being concerned in a good Mine let those that envy your Happiness be as merry as they please Ld. A. But pray Sir let us come to the Merit of the Cause what Profit do you believe may probably be made by this Undertaking I see you fully understand it and I shall very much depend on your Judgment Merch. My Lord it behoves a Man to be very cautious in giving his Opinion in this Case I can judge for my self but am not willing to engage another upon my Judgment your Lordship sees I have ventured my Money and that is the best proof of any Man 's good Opinion Ld. A. I
sometimes less are apt to conclude that it yields nothing at all Merch. There is another great Reason which occasions an uncertainty of our Yield in Silver which is this We have several Ribs of Oar in the same Veins which lye by one another like Planks in a Floor as for instance in the great Vein we have Potters-Oar or Soft-Oar which is of a large Grain Starry-Oar which is of a smaller and Steely-Oar which is of the smallest Grain of all and generally the smallest grained Oars do abound with most Silver But at present these Oars being all mixed and smelted confusedly together we have more or less Silver in every Operation in proportion to the quantity of small grained Oars that happened to be in each parcel of Lead refined and this might be the occasion that some Persons formerly thought our Oar so very poor and others so very rich in Silver Ld. B. If so methinks you should take care in raising your Oar to keep every sort by it self Merch. We do intend to do so for the future though it is not improper in some Cases to smelt them altogether in a due proportion But my Lord that we do make profit of the Silver to the advantage of the Nation as well as our selves is so fully and fairly tried and entred in our Books that there is no room for any Objection in that Case unless we can suppose that all the Gentlemen of the Committee would not only be guilty of a notorious Falsity in their Journals and Leidgers but also pay a fictitious Profit to the Company out of their own Pockets which would be ridiculous to imagine Ld. A. I am sure it would be ridiculous to do so But now you speak of the Committee again pray do they really buy in as is affirmed or sell out for I had rather judge of any Man's Opinion of the Mines that has a knowledge of them by his Actions than by his Words Merch. I have particularly examined that Matter and do find that the Committee have bought in and that not any have sold out any part of their Principal Money adventured or Shares arising from the same Ld. B. That is a very clear Evidence that they do not believe the Mine-Adventure to be a Cheat But pray what has the Steward of the Mines done in that Case Merch. My Lord I see your Coach is at the Door and it is but a little way to the Office in Lincolns-Inn new Square if your Lordship please I will wait on you there where you may receive farther Satisfaction in this and many other Particulars Ld. A. Do the Company suffer any Person to look into their Books Merch. Any Partner or Person of Quality We are not asham'd of our Proceedings Lord. A. My Lord I will wait on your Lordship if you please What say you Doctor will you go along with us Dr. My Lord I am ready to attend your Lordship wherever you command me Ld. B. Come Sir we are all agreed if you please to shew us the way Merch. My Lord This is the Office for the present which Sir H. M. affords the Company gratis for the Conveniency of the present Committee Ld. B. Pray Sir be pleased to introduce us Merch. I obey your Lordships Commands Sir I have brought these Noble Lords to see the Method of your Accounts relating to the Mine-Adventure Accomptant Sir the Books are at your Service you shall see them in what order you please Merch. I thank you Sir My Lord Here is a Register of the Principal Money adventured and here is the Transfer Book of the Principal Money according to the Form used in the Bank of England and here is the Journal and Leidger to the said Transfer Book Ld. A. Very well I see you are in exact Method of Merchants Accounts If this be a Cheat I am sure it is a very formal one Ld. B. But pray see for the Name of Mr. Waller and of the Gentlemen of the Committee how they stand there Merch. My Lord Here is an exact Alphabet to the Leidger by which you 'l find all their Names and Accounts in a moment Ld. B. That 's a very good method O here is Mr. Waller's Accounts I see he keeps his Original Stock and has not sold out any part thereof On my word he is in deep Merch. My Lord he ventured all his Arrears of Salary for many Years at the Rate of Two hundred and fifty pounds per Annum and chose rather to take it in the Mine-Adventure Tickets then in ready Money Ld. A. I think there can't possibly be a greater Demonstration of his good Opinion of the Mines then this I now see with my Eyes for certainly if he did not think well of this Undertaking he would have sold out at any Rate before this time Merch. There is one thing more which demonstrates Mr. Waller's sincerity Ld. A. What 's that Sir Merch. Mr. Waller in his Essay on the Value of the Mines and also at the first General Meeting did propose to take his old Salary of Two hundred and fifty pounds for the first Year till the Works were set in order and afterwards to accept One hundred pounds per Annum for every Ten thousand pounds per Annum clear Profits gained by the Partners out of the said Mines over and above all manner of Charges whereby he must bring in a clear Profit of Twenty five thousand pounds per Annum to the Partners before he can equal his former Salary What does your Lordship think of this Ld. A. Truly Sir I think this is beyond all What does he mean does he ever think to make more than his old Salary Merch. Yes he does he has such an extraordinary Opinion of the Mines that he does not doubt but at this Rate he shall in time receive a Salary of Sixteen hundred pounds a year Ld. A. Well if he does much good may it do him But is the Company absolutely bound up to this Proposal Merch. Not by any Deed in writing but I can't tell how far they may be oblig'd in honour Dr. Sixteen hundred pounds a year is a vast Salary they may be very generous to him and yet take time to consider of setting some bounds to the Proposal as for instance That he shall have a Salary of One hundred pounds per Annum for every Ten thousand pounds Profit not exceeding five or six hundred pounds a year I think that is very fair Merch. Well that may be considered when his Year is out we must not be unkind to him on any account whatsoever he is certainly both an honest Man and a skilful Miner And every Undertaking of this Nature does very much depend on the Integrity and Skill of the Persons who have the management thereof below as well as above Ld. A. 'T is very true But pray Sir now we are here for we detain this Gentleman the Accomptant from his Business Let us just cast our Eye on what the
Engines are chargeable and a Level when made carries off the Water without any Charge at all Ld. B. Pray Sir What do you mean by a Level Merch. My Lord a Level is called in some places an Adit in others a Sough or Drain and may be compared to a Common-Shore carried on from the bottom of the Hill at a dead Level under ground to the further end of it to Drain off all the Water from the Mines as they work them without the help of any Water-Engine or any further charge Ld. A. That is very fine indeed How deep is your Level from the Surface of the Ground Merch. In some places more in some places less according to the rise and fall of the Ground but in the deepest place it is Sixty four yards or thereabouts Ld. B. That is a Noble Level to drain Sixty four yards in Oar from the Surface But How will you sink a Pit or Shaft down to such a deepness to let off the Water Merch. My Lord the Miners work from the bottom of the Hill or Level on several Stages or Stelches one above another till they come near the Surface and so meet the Shaft that is siinkng downwards But there are many Shafts in other places sunk down above a Hundred yards deep and in Hungary above Three hundred yards as Brown in his Travels to the Mine-Towns in Hungary informs us when he says That at the Mine of Chremnits he went down by the Pit called by the Name of the Emperor Rodolphus's Shaft gently descending by the turning about of a large Wheel to which the Cable is fastned a Hundred and eight Fathoms deep into the Earth and after many hours being in the Mine was drawn out again by the Emperor Leopold's Shaft streight up above Three hundred yards a height surpassing that of the Pyramids above a third part Ld. A. But their Works perhaps are not so much troubled with Water as yours are Merch. They may not my Lord but our Method is very easie For when we have sunk down as deep as we conveniently can for Water we bore a Hole through the Rock quite down to the Level and so let off all the Water in the Common-shore Ld. B. That 's an excellent way indeed but pray Sir how can you bore through hard Rocks Merch. My Lord we have sharp Chizels skrew'd to Iron-rods of about Four foot long which are also skrew'd together to what length you please with which we pounce the Rock into a Powder and by continually turning about we keep the Hole round and with the working of the Water and motion of the Iron-rod the Rock or Stone thus beat to dust will in great measure rise up to the top of the Ground and work out of it self but when the Hole begins to be choaked we take up the Rods unskrew the Chizel and skrew on a Borier with which we cleanse the Hole and then put down the Chizel again and by this means we can bore a Yard in a Day in a very hard Rock Ld. A. This is a very fine Invention you 'l make us perfect Miners But pray Sir give me leave to ask you Whether it would not be worth your while to use some Water-Engine in the mean time till your Levels can be brought home Merch. If the Committee did believe that it would be long before those Levels could be brought home to the Veins I doubt not but they would make use of some Water-Engine but the Reason which sweyed with them to defer the use of such Engines a little longer was this as I am informed Their Shaft sunk down in the great Vein which is now fall'n in was about Twenty nine or Thirty yards deep and having carried on the Work in a Drift under Ground about Ten yards or more near to a Bogg the Water thereof and the small Stream which runs through the same came in so fast into this Drift that they were not able to withstand it without a very great Charge and they are of Opinion that it will require several Engines to draw off so great a quantity of Water the Charges whereof and of placing the same under Ground and of sinking more Shafts for that purpose and repairing the old Shafts and Drifts and the Wages of Men to work the Engines will by the Computation of what has been done and actually practised in other Mines amount to a very considerable Sum of Money when perhaps by that time these Engines shall be made the Shafts sunk and made fit to receive them the Engines carried down and placed to Work the great Levels Adits or Soughs may be carried home to the several Veins and thereby the Water drained off without any Charge and no farther use made of all those expenceful Engines And therefore though such Engines are necessary and very advantagious to all Works that have not this great advantage of Ground as we have to make a Level to drain off the Water Yet in our particular Case the Committee did conceive that it would not be very acceptable to the General Meeting that they should expend out of the Trading-stock any considerable Sum on that account or at least that an Affair of this Nature did require farther consideration Ld. A. The Committee do well to be saving of the Stock But pray Sir why could not the Committee raise Oar in the Levels and also with the help of these Engines at the same time to pay all these Charges Merch. Because I doubt the Partners would not be pleased to pay Forty shillings a Tun or some other great price for raising Oar with Engines when they will be able to raise Oar enough in the Levels for Five or Six shillings per Tun. Ld. B. That 's a good Reason indeed and I am glad this Objection was thought off because many Persons argued from hence That this great Vein was only a Belly of Oar and worked out for otherwise say they the Partners might presently raise Oar with the help of an Engine but you have fully satisfied me in that matter Merch. That Objection has been formerly answered A Belly of Oar being Ten Twenty or Thirty but none above Fifty yards in length but this Vein has been found for several Hundred yards and all the parallel Veins in this Mountain shew this to be a mistake But my Lord the Committee who are in great Expectation of coming up shortly with their Levels to this great Vein do yet intend if any Accident should happen to delay them beyond the Time proposed to make use of a Water-Engine which will immediately demonstrate this to be a settled Vein Ld. A. Pray Sir what is the longest Time proposed to carry the Level home to the great Vein Merch. Mr. Waller the Steward in his Essay on the value of the Mines proposes to have a Years time to set the Works in order and carry up the Levels to Oar in the respective Veins which expires the latter end of May next
very large Veins and in one of the Cross-drifts which takes most Ground upon it we meet with rich Strings of green Copper Oar which gives great hopes that that Vein will prove quick in that place and bear a Body of good Oar. Ld. A. On my word if that should so happen That one Copper Vein may be worth all the Lead Veins Copper being above One hundred pounds a Tun and Lead not above Ten or Eleven pounds Ld. B. Here is great Expectations indeed But pray Sir how much Oar do you really believe you shall be able to raise the first year after the Levels are carried home to the Veins Merch. Your Lordship may guess by what has been said already but 't is not possible yet to give any certain Account thereof till the Works are set in order and full Trials made of all the Veins Ld. A. But Sir as you have been free with us in other Matters pray give us your present Thoughts of this also for you can guess at the quantity better than we Merch. My Lord I can but guess at it for it may be the Workmen will not raise so much as I think they will and it may be they will raise a great deal more Ld. B. Well at a venture Sir let us hear Merch. My Lord I hope they 'l be able to raise at least One thousand Tuns the first year after the Levels are up if not more which may be done by Fifty Miners or there abouts at the Rate aforesaid Ld. A. Surely you may employ the first year more than Fifty Miners in all those Mines Merch. Truly I think so my Lord a great many more but I love to keep within compass lest any Person should suffer by my Computation Ld. B. I must confess I think you have made a very modest Calculation and yet I fancy if you double that quantity every year for five years you will raise a vast Sum. Pray Sir cast it up you will do it in a moment Merch. I will my Lord Here it is done The Mines of Bwlchyr-yr-Eskir  Debtor To Principal Money Adventured l. 125000 The Interest thereof at Six pounds per Cent. for Five years l. 37500 Total l. 162500  l. 162500 The Mines of Bwlchyr-yr-Eskir Per Contra.  Creditor  Tun of Oar raised Clear Profit By the first years produce from 50 Miners T. 1000 l. 5000 By the second years produce from 100 Miners T. 2000 10000 By the third years produce from 200 Miners T. 4000 20000 By the fourth years produce from 400 Miners T. 8000 40000 By the fifth years produce from 800 Miners T. 16000 80000 Total Tuns 31000 l. 155000 By Balance being so much wanting to pay off Principal and Interest 7500 Total l. 162500 So that it appears that in Case we employ but Fifty Miners the first year yet in Five years after the Levels are carried home to the Veins we are likely to raise One hundred fifty five thousand pounds and thereby to repay every Adventurer his Principal Money adventured with Interest at Six pounds per Cent. to a very small matter Ld. B. But if you venture to double your Men once more as I really think you easily may in so many Mines then the Sixth year you will get One hundred and sixty thousand pounds which added to the said Sum of One hundred and fifty five thousand pounds makes Three hundred and fifteen thousand pounds out of which deduct the said Sum of One hundred sixty two thousand and five hundred pounds there remains a Dividend of One hundred fifty three thousand and five hundred pounds clear Profit after all the Money adventured is repaid with Interest What does your Lordship think of this was there ever such an Undertaking as this in England before Ld. A. I protest the more I consider it the more I am astonished at the thing for I am not able to deny the force of the Argument or rather Demonstration for it and yet it still looks too big to be believed Merch. If I am in an Error I can't help it your Lordship commanded my present Thoughts and here you have them but as I said at first I may be mistaken something or other may happen to lessen the value of these Mines as for want of good management or by reason of another War or some other Accident that I can't now think off however I have demonstrated the thing according to my poor Capacity And now your Lordship may consider of these Calculatins and see if you can find out any material Errors in them and then your Lordship will act according to your better Judgment without blaming your humble Servant for his good Intentions Lord B. For my part I can't tell how any Man in such Cases as this can give any tollerable Judgment without the help of such Lights as these are and therefore if a Man is resolved to be very safe he may make very liberal Allowances for incident Charges and all manner of Accidents and then he can hardly miscarry Merch. My Lord that is my earnest desire for I had rather the Mines should stand at any moderate Calculation below the real value so as to make all Persons easie then to have them advanced to too high a value Ld. A. You say well Sir But as to your former Calculation I presume you don 't expect that you shall be able to double the number of Work-Men every year to the end of your Lease Merch. No my Lord pray pardon me I thought that Matter had been sufficiently explained before there is no Mine in the World but must be limited in that respect according to its largeness and the depth of the Level Ld. B. What number of Men have usually been employed in other Mines of Lead and Copper that were no larger than these Merch. Mr. Waller in his Essay gives your Lordship an Account that in some small Veins not above two Foot thick Six hundred Men have been employed and in some others not so large as these Two thousand Men in others Four thousand Men and at Potozi above Twenty thousand Men. Ld. B. What a vast number then may you in time set at work in all these Veins Certainly you may employ several thousand Men. Merch. Pray my Lord let us suppose that we can't employ more than is above set forth for I fancy they will raise as much Oar as will be sufficient to answer all our Expectations Ld. B. I 'le suppose what you please but I see very plainly that in time you will employ a great number of Men more than you have mentioned However there is still one Objection left That you will often meet with Twitches and Faults in your Mines and then a great part of their Time will be employed in dead work without raising any Oar. Merch. My Lord you observe very well Twitches are as natural in Veins of Oar as the Valvulae or little folding Doors are in the Veins of a Man's Body and the
Veins of Oar are better with them than without them for they preserve the Mineral Feeder and thereby enrich the Oar and I am very willing your Lordship shall make what Allowances you please for these Obstructions without giving any further Answer Ld. B. Nay Sir pray let us hear all that can be said on both sides Merch. If your Lordship will promise that no ill use shall be made of it I will declare what I think of this Objection Ld. B. I 'le promise you Sir it shall not Merch. Then my Lord I must confess I have made liberal Allowances for all these Accidents already for when your Lordship considers that a Tun of Oar lyes in the compass of two Foot square or thereabouts and that two Men in blasting upwards with Gun-powder will raise more Oar than six Men in working downwards with Gad and Sledge your Lordship will not think it improbable for two Men in one of these large Veins to raise a Tun of Oar in a day whereas I have supposed that they will raise but one Tun of Oar in a Week Ld. B. If a Tun of Oar lyes in so little a compass and your Works are once brought into such an Order that you can work upwards from the Level certainly one Blast of Gun-powder will bring down more than a Tun of Oar. Merch. It will either bring it down or so crack the Load of Oar that with Iron Bars two Men will presently pull down a Tun of Oar. Ld. B. And then I presume the Miners can make a Blast in a Night and a Day that is in Twenty four hours Merch. Yes my Lord in five or six hours if no extraordinary Accidents happen to delay them Ld. A. Hey day Why at this rate you will raise more Oar in one Year then you can Smelt in two or three Merch. So some Persons think my Lord But I doubt not but we shall be able from time to time to build Furnaces sufficient to answer our Occasions Ld. B. But stay Sir if you can raise Oar at this rate I doubt your Mines will hardly hold out to the end of your Term. Merch. My Lord a great Heap of Oar above Ground lyes in a little room below The Steward who has experienced how much Oar he has raised in a Yard square has computed at his highest Valuation that the Mines can't be exhausted during our Term to the deepness of our Level which your Lordship will the easier believe when you consider that the Mine of Chermnitz in Hungary has lasted Nine hundred and fifty years and that the Mine of Potozi not above Six foot wide in any place has lasted from the Year 1546. which is about One hundred fifty three years with Twenty thousand Men at work And Zenophon upon the Silver Mines of Athens tells us That as they dug on they still discovered fresh Veins and though their Mines had been wrought for many Ages with great numbers of Hands yet they continued still so far from being drained or exhausted that they could discover no visible difference in their then present state of the Mines from the Account their Ancestors had delivered down to them and when they had most Labourers at work at the Mines they found they had still Business for more Hands then were employed And Mr. Waller acquaints us That all great Veins of this kind are in some respects like a great large spreading Oak and hath a great number of Branches which like Boughs of a Tree shoot forth from the Body of the Vein insomuch that after a considerable Sum of Money shall be gained out of the same and many Years spent in the working thereof there will be still discovered fresh Veins shooting forth from the sides thereof which are innumerable and scarce ever to be exhausted Ld. B. But let us suppose however that the Mines may be worked out to the bottom or sole of the Level what will you do then Merch. My Lord we must then place a Water-Engine with a Wheel in the great Level and turn the Water-course that runs through the Bogg in Troughs down one of the Shafts upon the Wheel and so by that means drawing off the Water from the Mines we shall raise the Oar Forty yards deeper than the Level or else we may use Captain Savory's Fire-Engine for that purpose which we find best Ld. A. Now you say something then indeed if you can raise Oar so much deeper than the Level I believe there will be no want of Oar for Forty yards in Oar for Twelve hundred yards in length in so many Veins will be a vast Addition Pray Sir cast it up in the great Vein Merch. I will my Lord. Let me consider If a solid of two foot square in Oar will yield one Tun how many Tuns will a Vein Twelve hundred yards in length Two yards in breadth and Forty yards in depth yield Answer Three hundred twenty four thousand Tun which being valued at Five pounds per Tun amounts to One million six hundred and twenty thousand pounds Is not this a fair Profit from the Oar below the Levels But I will abate One hundred and twenty thousand pounds for Twitches and Faults in the Vein though there is not usually so many at that deepness as near the Surface and I have supposed the Vein but Six foot wide though we have had it already Seven foot six inches and in all probability will be much broader at that deepness Ld. A. If you can raise so much below what vast quantities may be raised above the Levels which in some places is Sixty four yards deep from the Surface Ld. B. Nay but if one Vein will yield so much what will all the Veins yield Merch. I hope they will yield sufficient to satisfie your Lordship that the Veins will not be exhausted during the present Lease Ld. A. I think you have given us a very plain demonstration of that but what will you do when your Term is expired Dr. Pray my Lord let us make the most of what we have I am not much concerned to look so far before me if I can have such a profitable Bargain for One and twenty years I do not care who has it after me Ld. A. But I love to look as far as I can that my Posterity may see that I had some respect for them as well as for my self therefore I shall be glad to hear what is likely to be the Issue of this Business Merch. I 'le acquaint your Lordship what I suppose will be the Issue of it As soon as our Works are brought to perfection and we are reimbursed our Principal Money adventured or that we are all encouraged with the Success of this and satisfied that we stand upon sure ground we shall take care either to renew our present Lease or take other Mines at a reasonable Duty or we shall do both as we see best Ld. B. Then you don't intend to give over the Mining Trade at the
shall be legally entitled unto and to buy and refine Oar by a Joynt Stock Now know ye that we being desirous to promote all Endeavours tending to the publick Good of this our Kingdom and to Encourage so commendable an Vndertaking of our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have Given Granted Constituted Declared and Appointed and by these Presents for Vs our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant Constitute Declare and Appoint that our right trusty and well-beloved J. Lord C. c. and such others as shall be admitted into the said Society henceforth be and shall be one Body Corporate and Politick in Deed and in Name by the Name of the Governour and Company for Digging and Working of Mines and for Buying and Refining Oar by a Joynt Stock in England Which Patent is dated the Seventh Day of September in the Fifth Year of their Majesties Reign By Writ of a Privy Seal Pigott Pro fine in hanaperio viginti Marcas J. Somers CS Merch. Your Lordship has an excellent memory I am glad to find that such Undertakings have been already countenanced and encouraged But I think this Company has not been very successful Ld. A. No Sir They obtained the favour of a Charter but could not agree to raise a Stock or Purchase any Mines Merch. Those two main Points should have been first settled and the Undertaking carried on and fully tried upon a private Agreement under Hand and Seal before they had proceeded farther Ld. A. It should so Pray Sir what Method have you observed in this Case Merch. We first purchased a rich Mine and then agreed under Hand and Seal to a Constitution for the Management thereof which is composed of all the best Charters and Constitutions of Companies about Town Ld. A. And you are all effectually bound in Law to the Observation of that Constitution Merch. Yes my Lord we are so Ld. A. Pray Sir let me hear how you are governed Merch. We are govern'd by a General Meeting a Grand Committee and a Select Committee Ld. A. Who has Votes in each of these Meetings Merch. All the Partners who have three Shares have a Vote in a General Meeting and all who have ten Shares in a Grand Committee and the Select Committee is elected every Year at a General Meeting out of those Partners who have Twenty Shares Ld. A. In whom does the Active managing Part lye Merch. In the Select Committee L. A. Then you will do well to take care that they be not only honest Gentlemen but Men of Temper and Conduct fit for Business and such as have a considerable Interest in the Mines But what is the Power of the Grand Committee Merch. The Grand Committee was intended to ease the General Meeting of any trouble unless upon extraordinary Occasions But now the General Meeting having agreed to meet every second Thursday in May and November there will be little or no Business for the Grand Committee Ld. A. But pray Sir what care is taken in your Elections to avoid Animosities and Heats Merch. We Elect by Balletting whereby the Votes of all the Partners are delivered in a Skrowl of Paper and a Scrutiny being made the Committee is declared by majority of Voices without knowing how any Person gave his Vote Ld. A. That is certainly the best way for there are many honest Gentlemen that will be disobliged if their Friends Vote against them though they are not qualified for doing the Company so much Service as others in a Business of this Nature and all the Partners are to respect the Publick Good in these Cases and not any Private Friendship Merch. The Publick Good is their own Good in this Case and he must be a very weak Man indeed that will act against himself Lord A. But I don't find there is any care taken for the Security of those that live in the Country who can't conveniently attend at these Elections in London Merch. Yes there is my Lord for they may send up a Letter of Attorney to A. B. and in his absence to C. D. and in both their absence to E. F. to Vote for them as a Proxy and also impower any one of them to receive their Interest or Dividend which Letter of Attorney being delivered into the Office may stand for as many years as they please till they think fit to alter it but they must name none to Vote for them but some of the present Partners who have three Shares Ld. A. All this is very well provided But has every Partner as many Votes as he has three Shares Then the Mines in time may come into the management of a few rich Persons that shall engross all to themselves Merch. No my Lord Sir H.M. who had by the old Constitution the majority of Shares in himself at every General Meeting and consequently the majority of Votes has now for the good of the Company reduced himself and all others to one Vote only though they have ever so many Shares Ld. A. That was very well done and is the Method that is found most Secure and gives greatest Satisfaction the same being also observed in the Bank of England and the New East-India Company But may any of the Select Committee Vote by Proxy too Merch. No my Lord there is too great a Trust reposed in them to be deputed to any others all the Treasure of the Company is in their keeping and under their management and no Personal Trust can be transferred to a Proxy or Deputy Ld. A. That is very true you ought indeed to be very careful of your Treasure that it be not wasted or imbezel'd Pray Sir how do you keep your Stock does it lye dead by you in a Chest Merch. No my Lord we keep it in Bank sealed Bills at Three pounds per Cent. Interest in the Bank of England according to the Directions of our Settlements Ld. A. And how do you Secure your Bank Bills Merch. In a strong Iron Chest with Seven several Locks and Keys to be kept by Seven several Members of the Committee Ld. A. And when you take out any Bank sealed Bills to whom are they delivered Merch. To the Cash-keeper who has given good Security for the faithful discharge of his Office and he applies and pays the same according to the Order of the Committee Ld. A. Very well But pray Sir how many of the Select Committee make a Quorum Merch. Five besides the Chair-man Ld. A. May any five of them with the Chair-man dispose of all the Treasure of the whole Company Merch. No my Lord this Matter stands thus If the value be above Five thousand pounds the Order Bargain or Agreement must be made and signed in Writing under the Hands of Seven of the Committee and if above the value of Ten thousand pounds or be to continue above a Year then it is to be confirmed by the Grand Committee or General Meeting Ld. B. That is very cautiously and prudently provided Now
Improvement should be made in that Art by any other but themselves But this Failing being so very common and natural to Mankind ought easily to be excused and we have been so very tender of their Reputation whatever they have been of ours that we have not pretended to Extract much more Silver out of a Tun of Lead than they did and for that we have given a Reason because the Oar in sinking deeper grew better and richer then it was before so that their Sincerity in their former Trials is freely owned and confess'd But there being a great difference betwixt Refining of Silver which is properly their Business and Extracting of Silver out of Lead which is properly ours they may not have those Opportunities and Conveniences of making Experiments and Improvements in the latter as we have Besides there is a great difference betwixt their way of Extracting and ours in respect of the Charge for they do it with Wood and we with Pit-coal they in London where all things are dear and we in a Country where all things are cheap they do it from Oar which costs about Four pounds a Tun at their Mills and we with Oar that costs about Twenty shillings Ld. A. I am glad you have any Advantages that may encourage you to proceed in the separating of Silver from Lead because it is plain that how little Profit soever you may make all the Silver extracted is clear gain to the Nation so that in case you extract no more than Five pounds out of a Tun of Lead and the Charges of doing it amounts to Four pounds ten shillings whereby the Profit to the Company is no more than Ten shillings in a Tun which is very inconsiderable the Nation will gain the whole Five pounds which is considerable and may amount to a vast Revenue if you have Encouragement to extract the Silver out of great quantities of Oar. And therefore I desire to know what the Nation will get at that rate in case the Mines should ever be advanced any thing near to Mr. Waller's Calculation Merch. My Lord the Nation would gain above One hundred thousand pounds per Annum as your Lordship may easily compute from the Calculation in Mr. Waller's Essay Ld. B. How That will be a great Advantage to this Kingdom indeed you need not fear Encouragement from all good Men and true Lovers of their Country as soon as the Nature of your Undertaking is known to the World Merch. But pray my Lord be pleased to consider that the Nation does not only get by the Silver extracted but also by the Lead Lytharge and Red-Lead which being Exported out of this Kingdom will Import their full value in Foreign Commodities without carrying our Coin and Bullion out of the Nation and if our Exports are of greater value then our Imports the Ballance of Trade is gained Ld. B. You observe very well and it is the undoubted Interest of this Kingdom to Export as little Silver and Bullion and as much of our own Commodities as we can in order thereby to gain the Ballance of Trade Which is the great thing we have always labour'd for in England and the only thing that can make this Nation truly great and powerful Merch. But besides all this it may not be improper to observe what a Chain of advantagious Consequences to the Nation will attend such an Undertaking as this How many Hundred if not Thousands in time of Men Women and Children will be employed The Men in raising winding up and stamping the Women and Children in dressing and washing the Oar. How many Men and Horses in carrying the same to the Water-side How many Sail of Ships will be employed in carrying Oar to Coal and Coal to Oar round the South-Coast of Wales How many Seamen to Man all those Ships what numbers of Men will be employed in building and making all Materials for the Rigging of so many Ships with Sails Masts c. and in Repairing the same in loading and unloading the Vessels and many other ways that are too numerous now to be mentioned Ld. A. These will be considerable as we find by experience in the Trade of New-Castle Coal which has all these Consequences to the great Advantage of the Nation Merch. My Lord New-Castle Coal had a beginning some time or other as well as this Undertaking I desire your Lordship to tell me whether you believe that any Man that should at that time have given an Estimate of what did afterwards come to pass how many thousand Men and what vast number of Ships and Seamen would be employed in that Trade to the great Advantage of the whole Nation whether at that time his Account thereof would not have seem'd as improbable as Mr. Waller's Essay on the value of these Mines Ld. A. Truly Sir I believe it would and therefore it must be confess'd That Undertakings of this Nature ought to receive all Encouragement imaginable because they may conduce very much to the Publick Good if they succeed and if they do not they can do none any hurt but those that are concern'd in the Adventure Ld. B. Such Men in other Countries are esteem'd Publick spirited Men and it is the Wisdom and Policy of their Law-makers always to assist and encourage them and I doubt not but they will be encouraged here when they are understood But this is a new Undertaking and unfortunately timed in an Age when all new things are called Projects and condemned without a hearing Merch. 'T was well timed in one respect for Lead is grown a scarce and dear Commodity and many Veins of late have failed in other Countries Ld. A. I think we are all now convinc'd that you are engaged in an Undertaking that is likely to be very advantagious to the Publick as well as to your selves as soon as the Works can be fet in order and brought to perfection And therefore I desire to know first What are the Difficulties you meet with Secondly What Laws and Constitutions you want to make your Business more easie at home and to give your Commodities a free vent abroad Ld. B. Without doubt it was considered that such an Undertaking as this must meet with many Difficulties or else what occasion had there been for joyning so many Purses together and raising so great a Stock Merch. Your Lordship observes very well that all great Undertakings do often meet with great Difficulties and therefore do require Time and great Purses as well as Care and Conduct to bring the same to Perfection But this is little considered by those who condemn this Undertaking for delay when I really think that no Undertaking hath ever gone on better for the time than this has done or met with fewer Difficulties Sir H. M. and Mr. Waller went down to the Mines the latter end of May last and what Conveniences hath been erected and made at Neath in Glamorganshire for Smelting Refining and Carriage of our Goods the Abstract of
Nature of this Adventure being thus explained it will not be very much for the honour or reputation of any true Englishman to oppose or discourage such an Undertaking where the Adveaturers cannot reasonably be supposed to do any prejudice but may do a great deal of good to this Nation However since it appears that the interest of his Majesty and the Publick is so much concern'd and that not only the Poor of Greenwich-Hospital but of most of the great Corporations and Boroughs in England will reap advantage front the prosperity of the Mine-Adventure It can't be doubted but that our most gracious Soveraign and our Noble Senators and Patriots of their Country will readily condescend to give it any assistance and encouragement which they in their great Wisdom and Goodness shall hereafter from time to time judge requisite and proper whose gracious Smiles and favourable Countenance will soon disperse those thick and dark Clouds of Ignorance and private Interest that over-spread this lower Region And it is humbly hoped that amongst all his Majesties great and glorious Actions it will be no dishonour to the present Reign nor to the honourable Members of both Houses of Parliament that the glorious Act concerning Royal Mines that open'd a new Scene of conceal'd Treasure to this Kingdom was passed in their time nor that these Mines were the first occasion and this Undertaking the first good Effect of that happy Law especially when it is observed that by the Industry of the Mine-Adventurers some Addition shall every day be made to the Publick Stock of the Nation in good Bullion extracted out of our own Mines and consequently in time many Millions of good Sterling saved to this Nation that was before totally lost and in great measure enjoyed by Foreign Countries 'T is humbly hoped that it will be no dishonour or prejudice to this Nation to improve the growth and manufactures of our own Country not only by extracting the Silver out of Lead as aforesaid but by making Lytharge of Silver as universal a Commodity as our Lead it self out of which it is made to our shame in other Nations This Undertaking is yet in its infancy but if it has the honour to he protected in its just Rights and nursed up by the Legislative Power with the usual care that is generally afforded to all other the Natural Products of our own Country it is not doubted but the Fruit thereof will in a reasonable time redound very much to their Honour as well as to the Profit of the King and Kingdom How many great and wonderful things are often brought to pass from very small and despicable beginnings is obvious to all that either bestow any time in reading what is done abroud or observing what is acted at home and it is not impossible nor perhaps improbable but some Men now in being may live to see this Company of the Mine-Adventurers bring in more real intrinsick and substantial Profit to this Nation then any other Company whatsoever However this is most certain that they will have no occasion to carry any Silver or Bullion out of the Kingdom as others do and that they will always Trade in Staple Commodities that import their full value into England It 's no very easie matter to judge of some Companies though they make great Gains to themselves and vast Sums of Money do circulate through their hands whether the Nation gets by them or not but it 's certain that all that is gain'd and expended by this Company brings in a clear National Profit for their very Expences as well as Gains circulate in our own kingdom and at the same time raise the Materials of a Staple Commodity out of the Earth that employ great numbers of Men Women and Children in the Manufacture thereof and is all an Addition to the General and Fundamental Stock of the Nation FINIS THE SECOND ABSTRACT OF THE State of the MINES OF Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr From the 31st Day of January last to the 30th Day of April 1700. By Order of the Committee The Committee have received an Account of the Mines to the Effect following February the 3d. THAT Mr. Waller had set Four Men to Sink 100 Yards West of the Bog-Work where they came at Two Yards deep to a Vein of Oar mixed with Vein-Stone Eight Foot wide That he is raising Oar in the little North-Vein but when the Levels are up he shall raise more Oar in a Day than he can do now in a Month and Two Thirds cheaper February the 6th That in the said new Discovery he cannot sink down much deeper for Water till the Level is carried home to it but believes at the deepness of the Level that it will be a larger Vein than that which is called The Great Vein that however he had let a Bargain to Andrew Slack for 100 Tons of Oar at 1 l. 5 s. per Ton for Raising Stamping Washing and making the Oar Merchantable February the 13th That observing the said new Discovery did improve he gave Andrew Slack a Guinea for his Venture and to discharge his Bargain And afterwards the same Day set the same Bargain of 100 Tons to John Pryfe and Partners at 14 s. per Ton the Vein being then Gathered into a solid Rib of Oar about half a Yard wide and in some Places One Yard wide in siâ—â—â— Oar besides a rich Mixture of Oar and Vein-stone about Five Foot more which Rib of Oar is above twice as large as the great Vein was at that Deepness This he says is a Glorious Sight and that few Veins at Sixty Yards deep can shew so much Oar as this Vein does at three Yard deep February the 19th That the New Discovery did mend in Sinking downwards We have it now in the deepest part Four Foot wide in firm Oar and we have opened it Ten Yards in length February the 27th That the New Discovery continued Four Foot wide in pure Oar and for the most part Potters Oar besides a rich Mixture of Oar and Vein-stone and that it did under-cut in Oar into the Spar-Rider which seemed to be the North-side of the Vein so that I have Hopes and not without Reason that the Spar-Rider at the deepness of our Level may be all Oar For we have cut in one place a Foot into the Rider and it is all Oar but this Bog-Water proves a great Hindrance to us We have Strings of rich Copper-Oar in Powel's Drift March the 4th In the new Work we are sumping in Oar in order to set a Pump till our Level is carried home to it I am dressing up the old shallow Level to the great Work in order to raise Oar there and I am carrying up Curtis Drift to the new Work March the 12th Curtis-Drift to the new Discovery goes very briskly forward We continue sumping in Oar in that Work and driving Stoups from the Sumps each way We have cut Eighteen Inches into the Spar-Rider and have not reach'd the far
side of the Oar. March the 19th I hope to clear the great Work of Water in a short time and raise Oar there In Curtis-Drift we find sparks of Oar near 100 Weight I doubt not but this Clay Vein will prove a good Vein at the Deepness of our Level The new Work continues to widen as we sink downwards Note These Letters do also give an Account of the Progress made in all the Levels and Cross-Drifts too long to be inserted in this Abstract but this great Discovery is confirm'd by several hands that is to say Mr. D. Jones to Mr. T. Hawkins Feb. 20. I have no more to add but only the good News of a Noble Sight of Oar in the New Discovery which I saw last Saturday Mr. Sym. Pryse to Mr. Shiers Feb. 20. There is a very Glorious Sight of Oar in the New Discovery Wishing Prosperity to the Adventurers I am Your Humble Servant Symon Pryse William Pugh of Mathaverve in the County of Montgomery Esq a Person of great Worth and Reputation being obliged to come up to London was pleased to send a skilful Artist in Mines to view this new Discovery with Orders that he should write him such an Account thereof as if Occasion were he would make Oath of the Truth thereof whereupon he sent him this following Letter To William Pugh Esq SIR I Was according to your Order on Monday last being the 19th Instant at Bwlchy-Eskir-Hyr where I had the Conveniency of taking a full View of the new Discovery there which I found as followeth The Vein is 120 Yards West of the Bogg-work it is opened or bar'd Ten Yards in length the top of the Oar at Three Foot deep from the Surface is a Foot Wide it is half a Yard in a Rib of pure Oar somewhat deeper and in less then Nine Foot sinking it affords a Rib of very good Oar four Foot in Wideness and in a word Encreases still as they Sink and the firm Sides open kindly The Oar is for the most part firm Potters Oar two Inchces or there abouts of small grain'd Oar being mixed with it which when cut with a Knife proves very mellow and soft as the other This is a true and just Account of the Work which if occasion required I will make an Affidavit of who have no Interest in mis-representing things nor any other design than to do right to the Truth and to satisfie you how the matter really stands Sir I am Your most humble Servant Richard Morris Though it cannot be doubted but this will give full Satisfaction of the truth of this matter yet at the request of some of the Adventurers Mr. David Jones now in London having made the following Affidavit it was not thought fit to omit the same on this occasion David Jones of the Parish of Laubadarn Vawr in the County of Cardigan Gent. maketh Oath That on the second day of March last past he this Deponent did go to the Mines of Bwlchyr Eskir-Hyr in the County of Cardigan late of Sir Carbery Pryse and now belonging to Sir Humphrey Mackworth and Partners and amongst other things did there particularly view a new Work or Vein of Oar lately discovered in the Bog Eastward from the great Work and about 120 Yards Westward from the Bog-work and did carefully measure the said Vein in the deepest part thereof and found it to be three Yards eight Inches deep or thereabouts and four Foot three Inches broad in Oar and also that the said Vein did gain one Foot more in Oar into the Sparr-rider and further that the said Vein of Oar was then opened and bar'd to the Surface of the Ground for ten Yards two Foot in length or thereabouts which was the Largest and most Glorious sight of Oar that this Deponent ever saw or heard of so near the Surface of the Ground and this Deponent further saith that the Sample of the Oar lately delivered by this Deponent to Sir Humphrey Mackworth at his Chambers in Lincolns-Inn was taken up by this Deponent out of the Oar of the said Vein and that he verily believes that the Oar in the said Vein will generally hold as good as the same he so delivered to Sir Humphry Mackworth as aforesaid David Jones Jurat 3 o. Die April Ann. Dom. 1700. Coram me Magistro Cancil Tho. Pitt Rich. Morris to W. Pugh Esq March 24. THe new Discovery at Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr widens downwards and that which was hard Oar at the top cuts out to good Potters Oar they will lengthen their work above double in a short time Mr. Waller to the Committee March 26. THe new Discovery continues to widen downwards and the Spar-rider under cuts in good Oar so that I continue my hopes that the said Oar which is three Yards wide will be all Oar at our Level for it is altered strangely in four Yards driving it is all white Spar at the Surface and at four Yards deep the Sun-side of it is very fine Oar near two Foot wide in some places In Curtis Drift the Sparks of Oar encrease from one Hundred to two Hundred weight of fine Potters Oar this Vein is now above five Yards wide I am Timbering the Shaft to the Great Work and shall raise Oar there as soon as I have it in Order I have sent to Darbyshire for more Miners April the 2d Curtis-Vein continues its Sparks in large Lumps of pure Oar and they encrease upon us so that I expect them in a short time to take a set in a firm Rib of Oar. This Bog will prove a wonderful rich Work the Vein is near six Yards wide and all throwne with Lumps of this fine Oar and this is but seven Yards from the Surface and we are going upon the Rise of our Sills Our new Discovery still widens downward we are troubled with Water and cannot raise much Oar yet but when Curtis-Drift is carried home to it we shall then double and treble our Men in raising Oar there We have not half so much Water in the Great Work as we use to have we think that the West level hath met with some Crack in the Rocks that helps to drain it I am Timbering yet in the Shaft and expect more Miners April the 9th Curtis-Vein encreases in Oar the new Work continues to widen downward and we have firm Ribs of Oar in the Spar-rider when Curtis-drift is up that will be a rich Work indeed I am now beginning to raise Oar in the Great Work but have no new Men come yet I will send my Man to the North for more Men for I shall have room for a great many in a little time April the 9th Mr. John Norman writ a Letter to Col. John Perry a Member of Parliament giving an account of the Mines to the same Effect as is above mention'd Mr. Waller to the Committee April 16th THe large Sparks of Oar Continue in Curtis-drift towards the new Work which will be as large as a Belly of Oar
at the deepness of our Level The new Work continues to encrease downward and the Oar grows more soft I am raising Oar in the great Work but have no more Men as yet In Wallers-drift we have some small Sparks of Oar so I hope we grow near that Vein The West Level is hard I suppose we are in the side of the Clay Vein and when we are in that Vein we shall go briskly forward Mr. Symon Prys to Mr. D. Jones Apr. 17. YOu may acquaint the Committee that the Work goes on Bravely and the great Vein mends upon it so doth likewise the new Vein which was discovered at their going out of the Country and I hope by the time the Masters come down they will find all the Works in a good Method and Posture Mr. Waller to the Committee in these words following April 23d 1700. SInce mine of the 16th I began a Shaft eight Yards North of the new Work and on the point where the large Sparks of Oar is got at seven Yards deep But here at three Yards deep in this new Shaft we struck upon the Quick Vein so that the bottom of it is as if it were paved with good Potters Oar and we have got no side of it so what widness it will reach till I see the sides I cannot inform you we raised Oar of all sizes from a Stone to 200 weight and some so large we could not remove till our Shaft is Timbered this is what I expected for in mine of the 2d of April I told you we were going upon the rise of our Sills so that I doubt not but we shall reach here where it will take its set for here the Oar is gathered into one body and is raised within three Yards of the Surface We are Sumping and driving in the new Work in good firm mixed hard and soft Oar and the Spar-rider continues to under cut in Oar. I intend a Cross-drift from the New Shaft bottom which will be eight Yards and will clear the new Work of Water about nine Yards deep I told you in mine of the 9th of April that I was begun to sink at e in the West Level we are got about seven Yards deep and there we are come to Oar it is not yet in a firm Rib which a little sinking will bring it to We raise more Potters Oar out of the Great Work than formerly It grows softer the deeper we go and our West Level will come thirty Yards under our Soles so that it may be much softer at our Level however we can raise it upwards when our Levels comes up as fast as we please or as fast as it can be drawn The West Level is not so hard as it was we have no other alteration in any part of our Works As to raising of Oar I have done what was possible in the Winter Time the Water being so strong upon us that we were not able to sink down our Sumps till the Weather grows Warmer that the Men may be able to work naked in the Water But as soon as Curtis-Drift is driven home and a Sump sunk into the Level and a few Stages made I shall quickly make you amends I have such a glorious Sight before me that I am in the Condition of Tantalus and am resolved to work Night and Day till I have cleared the Works of Water But I hope Patience will not be so great a Task now your Victory is in Prospect as it was before We have lately raised Oar in several Places but till I have raised greater Quantities did not think it worth while to dress it up and weigh it for when the Works are in Order and the Water Conquered I shall then raise more Oar in one Day than I can now in one Month. I have all Hands fully employed and want more And though to please you I do now raise Oar before the Works are in Order yet you will have more Profit from what is left than from what is now raised before the Levels are up Gent ' I beg your Pardon for this tedious Letter and hope you will believe me Honoured SIRS Your Honours most Obedient Humble Servant Will. Waller Mr. Turner came in with his Ship last Saturday Night The Smelting and Refining at Neath is carried on with all the Diligence and care that can be expected several Ships being employed to carry oar to Coal and Coal to Oar round the South Coast of Wales And some Improvements have been lately made in the Art of separating Silver from Lead which 't is hoped will tend to the great Advantage of the Nation as well as of this Company Sir Humphry Mackworth has lately ordered a Pair of strong Flood-Gates to be placed at the Mouth of the Canal lately cut by him from the River of Neath whereby Vessels of 100 Tons may come up and discharge at the Crane within Four Hundred Yards of the Smelting and Refining-Houses he has also erected a Red-Lead Mill a large Court with a high Wall a Compting-House and other Conveniencies And we have Two Ship-Loading of Lead and Lytharge ready to come from Neath to London and have received an Account that the Ship called the Tichfield Henry Gilbert Master is sailed from the Port of Neath bound for London and freighted with Lead and Lytharge of Lead for the Use of the Company This Account is such as needs no Explanation the Mines beginning now to speak for themselves with more proper Arguments than can be expressed in Writing and the Committee having thus discharged their trust by giving a true Relation of the Matters of Fact do leave every Adventurer to use his own Judgment in the Construction of them By Order of the Committee Fr. Pigot Sec '