I go about being a mine-owner

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

We go take rooms at a decent inn at the town nearest to my estate, for I do not consider it would answer to open up the house for such a brief visit. Also Milord says as he recollects, 'tis not much more than a hunting box.

The inn is reasonable comfortable and there is good plain fare at their table. I have Docket to go manifest my consequence and the service is positive obsequious.

In the morn I look out of my chamber window and observe Sandy sitting upon the mounting block in the stableyard smoaking with Ajax.

Once Docket has deckt me for the day, I go out, and greet him, remarking that I hardly expect’d him so soon.

He smiles very charming and says that he has not enjoy’d more than a little hasty converse with a certain silly creature these several days and he is sure we have a deal of intelligence to communicate to one another, from discoveries gleaned at gossip over the tea-cups and manly discourse over port.

I daresay, says I. I turn to Ajax and ask whether the horses are ready to be put to so that we may drive to the estate. He grunts and says give them another little while.

Well, says I to Sandy, are the horses being water’d or such, I daresay we could make sure that you are coffee’d in preparation. The coffee here is drinkable, tho’ sure I have been quite entire spoilt by Seraphine and Euphemia.

We go into the small parlour that I have bespoken and I summon coffee. And have you breakfast’d? – some while ago, he concedes, and some sustenance would be agreeable. A plate of good fresh-bak’d bread is produc’d along with some cheese that is made in the locality.

We look at one another with great amiability. Indeed, he says, 'twas by no means the ordeal that I fear’d – a deal of civility all round save for the D- K-s. Sure that fellow goes about as if he desir’d to be blackball’d.

Mr D- K-, says I, wishes he had thought to marry a woman like unto myself, I confide because he supposes he could pander me to more advantage. And then went about to solicit my interest on their behalf – (sure I daresay John Knox could not have lookt more dourly Calvinistickal) - so I gave him a set-down. While his unfortunate lady has been about slandering the pair of us. But I confide that one that has been so busy about making malicious speculations upon her fellow guests is not like to be believ’d.

Also, says I, I am quite entire like to think that the great on-dit of the occasion will be Mr W- Y-, that was exit, pursu’d by a swan.

Indeed, I daresay 'twill be all around the clubs by now.

We exchange a little more gossip about our fellow-guests, and I bring Sandy to the blush by recounting the gossip of the servants’ hall about the maids that would draw straws for which was to attend the chamber of that pretty Mr MacD-. He counters with a remark upon the several gentlemen that had aspirations towards the fascinating Lady B-, but did not quite dare for fear that 'twas entire true that she conducts a liaison very discreet with Lord G- R-, that is so fam’d a swordsman and shot.

Ajax knocks upon the door, looks around and says we may be off as soon as maybe.

'Tis an agreeable journey during which Sandy informs me that lead was min’d in these parts by the Antient Romans, and that there are also other minerals in the workings tho’ the lead is by far the most prevalent. Altho’ the demand for lead has droppt somewhat now that we are not at war, it still has many uses in roofing, making pipes &C, and thus remains a profitable matter. We arrive in good time upon my estate and drive up to the house of the manager, Mr M-

He comes out to greet me and shake my hand: I dip him a curtesy and thank him very much for taking the time to show me a little of the place and talk over the business. This, I add, turning to Sandy, is Mr MacD-, that is my adviser upon legal and business matters. Mr M- nods to him and says, A Scot? Our engineer Mr McA- is a Scotsman.

There is an exceeding small village – I wonder where the miners and their families can be hous’d, but Mr M- explains that 'tis customary in these parts for the miners to live on small-holdings, where they may grow vegetables, keep poultry and mayhap a cow, some even go so far as to raise a pig or two.

The women of the families, he goes on, take part in the business by crushing and grading the ore that their menfolk mine.

They are a good set of workers, he continues, tho’ the fact that they have their land to cultivate makes them somewhat independent in their ways. Well-behav’d most of them, a deal of them are Methodists, also provident fellows that have a friendly society in case of sickness or accident.

He looks at me and says that the mine and the mill are very dirty places, unfit for a lady. I wonder at this, if the women of the place work there, but I see that he is in much concern about the matter. Perhaps, says I, Mr MacD- could go take a look around?

Indeed, he says, I had that thought and will go knock on McA-'s door to see if he can take him.

Mr McA- is a well-set-up fellow that greets Sandy as a fellow-countryman – I can hear that his accent becomes a deal more pronounc’d and that they use many words that are not of common English usage.

Mr M- says that his wife would be delight’d to give me some tea, and he could explain to me the matters he wishes to put before me.

That would be charming, says I. We return to his house, where Ajax is tending the horses and has attract’d a small crowd of urchins that I daresay have never seen a black face – at least, one that does not wash off, for I daresay the miners come up exceeding grimy – and are most fascinat’d.

Mr M- takes me into the parlour, where his wife, in a great fluster, dips me a curtesy and asks will I take tea? I say that I am entirely ready for a fine cup, and – I pause and sniff – sure, there is some fine baking going on, I apprehend. O, says she, 'tis only some lardy-cake, that Mr M- likes exceeding, but you would be very welcome to try a piece.

She brings us tea and the lardy-cake, curtesies again and leaves me with Mr M- to talk business. The latter goes tell me that the late Marquess was a good owner in that he did not squeeze the place, even when revenues declin’d after the war. But being so far away, he continues, and pauses. There are improvements in the machinery all the time, he goes on, sure there would be an outlay but 'twould pay for itself within a very few years.

He takes out some documents and commences upon singing the praises of a newer kind of steam-pump to drain the mines so that they can be workt at deeper levels, much more effective than the one previous install’d. Also there are various matters to do with the smelting mill that would be most exceeding beneficial.

Why, says I, this seems to me quite entirely sensible, but might I take these and show them to Mr F-, whose wife is a great friend of mine, and has most civil offer’d to advise me on this matter?

Indeed you could not be better advis’d! exclaims Mr M-. Of course, I do not think Mr F- has any particular dealings in lead, but his understanding of the benefits of investing in new processes and the most modern machinery is everywhere prais’d. And has taken Mr D- into partnership lately I understand – there is a clever fellow, has a great knack for inventions.

I see that I have gain’d a deal more consequence in Mr M-'s eyes from my connexion with my belov’d Grand Turk than from being the widow of a Marquess.

He has advis’d me, says I, on the benefits of keeping a little memorandum book to record matters – I take mine from my reticule – and will just make a few notes of the particular things I should discuss with him.

Mr M- says that he hears Mr F- has been sent to Parliament, now that is the type of fellow with a sound knowledge of industry and business that we need there.

I say that Mr F- has also been about a deal of improvements in the vicinity of his works and I am like to wonder whether there is matter of the sort requir’d here.

Mr M- looks thoughtfull and says, at present 'tis some way to send for the nearest surgeon is there any accident –

O, says I, would not a dispensary be a fine idea?

He displays considerable enthusiasm at the prospect and I write down a deal of questions that I shall need to address about the business.

There is a knock upon the front door and come in Sandy and Mr McA- that are most clearly in a great accord.

Mr M- remarks that they keep unfashionable hours in these parts but we are most welcome to join them for dinner.

This is entirely agreeable, and I also praise the very fine lardy-cake - for indeed, there is none left upon the platter – and wonder whether Mrs M- might disclose her receipt for it. She is quite entire delight’d to do so: I offer to see does Euphemia have any receipts of her own she would like to exchange, and also go offer to send her any spices &C that she may have difficulty in obtaining in so remote a place.

Comments

[nineveh_uk]

I have just been inspired to brighten my day through purchase of a slice of lardy cake.