[draft:]

Cottrell
April 10 /58

To oblige you, & to make your positⁿ perfectly straightforw^{d satisfy} _clear, as y nat^lly w^d desire _wish it to be, w^th respect to y^r friends Mess^rs Sarl & Co, I made the offer to them cont^d in my last l^r – Perhaps your conversⁿ w^th them may have shaken y^r confid^ce in the valuable character of this prop^ty If so, I beg y will not consid^r y^self as bound by anything that has passed between us in the course of this negotⁿ. The affair is much too important & on too great a scale of magnit^de to be entered into by you or anyone else except after the fullest considerⁿ and as I feel confid^t of being able to let the irongrounds _^ ^{to some or party to 1 or or party} in the course of a few months at latest ^{year or two}, I beg you to exercise a free unfettered judgm^t on the matter –

Finding that time To save time at a as the season is advanc^g I have applied to a landowner _^who resides in Lodn to know on what terms he w^d allow me to make a tramway over his fields. I have not yet recd an ans^r.

I am unable to have the pleas^re of meeting you at pres^t as I am just ab^t to start for Edinb _{4 Atholl Cresct} for _^^{2 or} 3 weeks

Very likely y w^d wish to exam^ne the irongrounds agⁿ. In that case you will find George Wilkins at your service and I will leave out in his charge the map of the estate which will be of use to you in guiding your geological researches at Nethermore.

P.S. They seem to be going on w^th spirit at Westbury so that the value of Wiltsh. iron will soon be tested on a suffic^t scale

I quote the foll^g f^m Friday’s Times. Ironstone of this distr^ct (Birm^m) of good quality sells now at 16/6 to 17/ p^r ton. calcined d^o 17/

Cottrell Apr. 10 /58

… on the matter. If you decide upon tak^g the lease, please to write me word, & I will give the necessary instruct^ns for drawing it up.

To save time as the season is adv^cg I h^v applied to a l^d owner who resid^s in L. t know on w^t terms he w^d allow me t make a tramw. over his field – I hv. not yet rec^d an ans^r –

Being v^y m^ch engaged this w^k I sh^d prefer if you w^d call ^{your calling} here the next week if it is conv^t to you – By that time I suppose I sh^ll have had the old gent^s answ^r

P.S. they seem t be g^g on w^th Sp^t at W. so that the value of Wiltsh iron will soon be tested on a suff^t scale. – I quote the foll^g f^m the Times of Friday – Ironstone of this dist^ct (Birm^m) of g^d qual^y sells now at 16/6 to 17/ p^r ton. Calcined d^o 17/

I think the Wiltsh. ironstone must be super equal to the Staffdsh. in value, and ought to fetch 17/ if the latter does.

[expanded version:]

Cottrell
April 10, 2858

To oblige you, and to make your position perfectly straightforwed satisfactory clear, as you naturally would desire wish it to be, with respect to your friends Mess^rs Sarl & Co, I made the offer to them contained in my last letter – Perhaps your conversation with them may have shaken your confidence in the valuable character of this property. If so, I beg you will not consider yourself as bound by anything that has passed between us in the course of this negotiation. The affair is much too important and on too great a scale of magnitude to be entered into by you or anyone else except after the fullest consideration and as I feel confident of being able to let the irongrounds to some or party to one or or party in the course of a few months at latest year or two, I beg you to exercise a free unfettered judgement on the matter –

Finding that time To save time at a as the season is advancing I have applied to a landowner who resides in London to know on what terms he would allow me to make a tramway over his fields. I have not yet received an answer.

I am unable to have the pleasure of meeting you at present as I am just about to start for Edinburgh 4 Atholl Crescent for two or three weeks

Very likely you would wish to examine the irongrounds again. In that case you will find George Wilkins at your service and I will leave out in his charge the map of the estate which will be of use to you in guiding your geological researches at Nethermore.

If you decide upon taking the lease, please to write me word, and I will give the necessary instructions for drawing it up.

To save time as the season is advancing I have applied to a landowner who resides in London to know on what terms he would allow me to make a tramway over his field – I have not yet received an answer –

Being very much engaged this week I should prefer if you would call your calling here the next week if it is convenient to you – By that time I suppose I shall have had the old gentleman’s answer.

P.S. They seem to be going on with spirit at Westbury so that the value of Wiltshire iron will soon be tested on a sufficient scale

I quote the following from Friday’s Times. Ironstone of this district (Birmingham) of good quality sells now at sixteen shillings six pence to seventeen shillings per ton. calcined ditto seventeen shillings

P.S. They seem to be going on with spirit at Westbury so that the value of Wiltshire iron will soon be tested on a sufficient scale – I quote the following from the Times of Friday – Ironstone of this district (Birmingham) of good quality sells now at sixteen shillings six pence to seventeen shillings per ton. calcined ditto seventeen shillings. I think the Wiltshire ironstone must be super equal to the Staffordshire in value, and ought to fetch seventeen shillings if the latter does.