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Nov. 3 /57

M^r Combes,
Devizes

I am m^ch oblg^d t y. for y^r print^d pap^r entitled Facts & informⁿ &c w^ch seems / be charact^zd by g^t fairness

As to the deposits of ore on the hill at N.more

Some gentⁿ are at pres^t in corresp^ce w^th me ab^t work^g these iron grounds on a large scale. If that negocⁿ sh^d come to nothing or these be unsatisf^y

I shall be <illegible deletion> endeav^r t ans^r y^r quest^ns to y^e best of m as far as I am able to do so, but for the pres^t feel precluded f^m doing so –

I may howev^r ob^ve that I th^nk this ore might be carr^d to Staff^dsh for 1 shill^g p^r ton less ^cheaper than the Seend ore. It w^d be carried 8 or 9 m. by can^l to a place call^d I th^k Dauntsey wh^f & there put on w^ch is near y^e railw^y – This saves 20 m. of railw^y carr^g as compar^d w^th the Seend ore.

It is only 3m by canal to Chipp^m

It w^d not be <illegible deletion> good economy to raise only the kind of ore I sent you – There are diff^t qualities _^^{fnd here} as there are at Seend

Any day _^^{before the 20th inst that} you like to come over & see the pits, with any of y^r friends who may wish t see y^m also if y will give a day’s prev^s notice, I my gard^r will be ready t accomp^y you. He knows all ab^t them – Aft^r that date I shall be going to Scotl^d but that need not prev^t your coming if so dispos^d

Tak^{g As} y dist^ce f^m Chipp^m to Wlvh^m at 130 is 129 miles, if the GWR w^d carry y^e ore for 7/16 ^d of 1^d _^^{pr ton} p^r mile or _^^say at 8/16 as y^e quant^y w^d _^^proby be less that w^d come to 5^s/5^d per ton or say _^^phaps 6/

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November 3, 1857

M^r Combes,
Devizes

I am much obliged to you for the printed paper entitled Facts and Information etc. which seems to be characterized by great fairness.

As to the deposits of ore on the hill at Nethermore. ^<1> Some gentlemen are at present in correspondence with me about working these iron grounds on a large scale. If that negociation should come to nothing or these be unsatisfactory I shall be <illegible deletion> endeavouring to answer your questions to the best of my as far as I am able to do so, but for the present feel precluded from doing so – I may however observe that I think this ore might be carried to Stafforshire for one shilling per ton less cheaper than the Seend ore. It would be carried eight or nine miles by canal to a place called |I think Dauntsey wharf and there put on which is near the railway – This saves twenty miles of railway carriage as compared with the Seend ore. It is only three miles by canal to Chippenham.

It would not be <illegible deletion> good economy to raise only the kind of ore I sent you – There are different qualities found here as there are at Seend.

Any day before the twentieth inst. that you like to come over and see the pits, with any of your friends who may wish to see them also if you will give a day’s previous notice, I my gardener will be ready to accompany you. He knows all about them – After that date I shall be going to Scotland but that need not prevent your coming if so disposed.

Taking As the distance from Chippenham to Wolverhampton at 130 is 129 miles, if the Great Western Railway would carry the ore for ⁷/₁₆ of a pence per ton per mile or say at ⁸/₁₆ as the quantity would probably be less that would come to five shillings five pence per ton or say perhaps six pence.

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Notes:

1. Nethermore Farm and Wood, Lacock, Wiltshire