[draft:]

Saund^rs

I h^ve rec^ly disc^red on my est^t in y^s n^bhd an ext^sve a depos of r^ch iron ore, _^very simil^r to that w^ch has bⁿ f^nd at S^nd _^^{6 m. fm hence} & as good in all resp^cts & eq^lly extens^ve

I underst^d that y^e GWR have made a spec^l _^^{& favorable} contr^ct w^th Mess^rs Sarl of y^e Seend w^ks to carry their ore into Staff^dsh

and that they have also made a contract w^th the new Com^py call^d the GWI C^y at Dev^zes to carry their ore & coals to & f^m Ruabon in N Wales on terms equally favour^ble to you.

Parties who are negoc^g w^th me f^r the work^g of my iron f^lds on a large scale, are v^y desir^s of know^g w^r the GWR Com^py are ^{wd be} will^g to contract / convey the ore of this place to Staff^dsh. on y^e s^m terms

Such an agreem^t w^th the GWC w^d v^y greatly facil^te an _my arrang^ts w^th th^m these parties In fact it s^ms that the sale of y^e ore in y^e Staffsh M^kt w^d be a profit^ble or unprof^e transⁿ acc^g as s^ch agreem^t for cost of transp^t were enterd into or not. So closely do the expenses bear upon the m^kt value of y^e ore

The q^y of the ore to be raisd is large the depth ^thickness of the deposit b^g 25 feet & that over more than 50 acres extend^g. It has bⁿ roughly estim^d at a millⁿ tons

[expanded version:]

Saunders

I have recently discovered on my estate in your neighbourhood an extensive a deposit of rich iron ore, very similar to that which has been found at at Seend six miles from hence andas good in all respects and equally extensive.

I understand that the Great Western Railway have made a special and favourable contract with Messrs Sarl ^<1> of the Seend works to carry their ore into Staffordshire and that they have also made a contract with the new Company called the Great Western Iron Company at Devizes to carry their ore & coals to & from Ruabon in N Wales on terms equally favourable to you.

Parties who are negociating with me for the working of my iron fields on a large scale, are very desirous of knowing whether the GWR Company are would be willing to contract convey the ore of this place to Staffordshire on the similar terms.

Such an agreement with the GWC would very greatly facilitate an my arrangements with these them these parties In fact it seems that the sale of the ore in the Staffordshire market would be a profitable or unprofitable transaction according as such agreement for cost of transportation were entered into or not. So closely do the expenses bear upon the market value of the ore.

The quantity of the ore to be raised is large the depth thickness of the deposit being 25 feet and that over more than 50 acres extending. It has been roughly estimated at a million tons.

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Notes:

1. William Sarl, Champion Iron Works, Seend.