The Hartlib Papers

[another hand?:]           Mr Dury of Mines in England

Sir

I thanke you for the Care which you promisse to take of the memorandum which I sent by Mr Hartlib to know the Pryce of the Hebrew Books which Manasseh Ben Israll hath to sell either Mr Moriaen or Mr Boreel. (to both of them I pray remember my love & service) wilbe able to effect it I suppose without difficulty. I receiued from Mr Hartlib a few Queries which you desired to be resolved by Mr Ramsay, to which he gave me this Answere, that in England there is but one Myne of Antimony about Durham, that there be many of Lapis Calaminaris, of Red & Courss Talke and of Arsenick also, He sayes concerning the Mynes of silver, that the richest of the world, are in Scotland and that here in England there be some also very rich, but how to gett any quantity transported he could not advise; the Cost[altered from Coast] would be very great and in theise troblesome Tymes other difficulties may be incident, but he said that he had a Patent for all the Mynes of England & Wales and that he was and that he was in a way to have some Officers of the Army to ioyne with him for protection to worke in them, and yf he could bring Matters about as he hoped he should, then he would advise you, or such as could improve the Oare to come vppon the Place, this was all that I could gett of the him, he told me (yf I be not mistaken) that the Silver Oare in Scotland doth hold 80 lb. Sterl.[altered] in a Tunne he named also a quantity of Pounds which the English Oare doth hold but I have forgotten it, he said that awhile agoe he had Samples of them both but he had disposed of them already and could not commaunde any att this present: thes is all that he discoursed with me concerning your Queries, yf there be any thing wherin I cane serve you towards[altered] him

                   your faithfull Friend & servaunt

                      in Christ Iohn Dury./

St. Iames the 14 of March

  1648.

The Queries concerning the True aime of a Christian, I forgett not, and in the discourse concerning the Kingdome of Christ which is in Mr Hartlibs Hand I have begune to Answer it, But when that discourse shalbe finished I hope it wilbe fully answered and then that dept wilbe paid/

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             Esai. 60. v. 17.

For brasse j will bring gold, and for iron j will bring silver, and for wood brasse and for stones iron: I will also make thy[altered from the] Officers peace and thine Exactours righteousnesse.

                 A

              Memorandum for Mr Worsley.

I went againe the other day to my Vncle to satisfie myself more fully about some things which j had not well heeded when j first spoke to him, and j tooke a note of these Particulars from his mouth.

Hee said that hee was persuaded that in Scotland were as rich Mines as any in the World and far richer then any that are known in Evrope. Of Silver-Mines hee said there were many holding 200. and 300 lb. sterl. vpon the tonneof Oare.

     Some there are that hold 500. lb. sterl. vpon the tonne: One there is which doth hold about 1000 lb. sterl. vpon the tonne; and another doth hold about 1500 lb. sterl. vpon the tonne of Oare

     Of Gold-mines hee said that in Several places Gold is found in some streames, that flow from hilles, as pure as any currant gold without any Art, but only washing with faire Water.

     There is a Copper-mine which holds of Gold

Another Copper-mine is so pure that 3. tonnes of Oare will make one of Copper.

        This Mine is easie to come by and of 5 miles lenght.

  There bee there also Mines of Antimony of Tinne and of Lead. Hee railes at his Countrymen, that they are such Beasts as not to venture to worke vpon them. Hee saies that hee is authorized by a Patent to work vpon any of them, that those who worke in the Coale-mines are abundantly to bee had for Worke-men to winne the Oare. That none of these Mines are far distant from a River by which the Oare may bee transported.

     That although in some places Wood is wanting, yet that it may bee supplied by making Charcoale of the ordinary Scots-coale or of turfe which is to bee found there.

    That if hee could haue found there those that would haue ventured with him in a Stock, hee would haue beene at Worke long agoe.

     That nothing is wanting but some to joine with him who know that the ways of Refining, which hee thinks him-selfe very expert in./