Enclosing a letter from Colo. Charles Lynch, Superintendant of the Lead Mines “giving a state of the works and the prospects” for the ensuing year. He had directed Capt: Sanders, then in charge of the mines to exchange lead for bacon for their support: there is a fine prospect for ore” and the largest quantity already raised he ever had on
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hand, but the furnace is out of repair, and one of the miners who says he deserted for want of provisions, had come to his house and informs him they await his going up to repair the furnace—He says Sanders feeds them on nothing but bread and water and “Drives hard.” Sanders’ conduct has always been too irregular and violent.
The Welsh-men, the last summer had “enter’d into Bond not to work for the country, unless they should all be employ’d, and John Jinkins to have management,” supposing the business could not be carried on without them. Proceeds, “at the same time Jinkins and two more that I fixed it on, was sworn in with one Jo: Griffet, who they call Colo: Griffet at the hed of the Insurgents in them Parts—I was then so happy as to find out their schemes and frustrate them. I was also able to do without their assistance, by working the furnace turn about with Mr. Sanders & made more Led out of a charge of Oar than they had done before. Jinkins, who at that time was one of my Principal men & receiving more wages than any man I employed, after their infernal schemes was quash’d, made some acknowledgements & promising all that I could ask, I took him into business again. he is of great use about the furnace.—but some of the rest, who I am inform’d made use of hundreds of Pounds of the Proprietors property, before the Country took possession of the Mines, and who still was employ’d occasionally, being loosers by the mistake I have already mentioned, have never ceas’d to say every thing to the Prejudice of Sanders and those concern’d: and have gained the ear of some I did not expect. I am convinc’d a party there is, who by lying, has Deceiv’d some Good men to listen to them—they are mostly torys & such as Sanders has given Lynch’s Law too for Dealing with negroes &c.”
