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[Probably written in protest at the Treasury's refusal to settle his expense claims in full: see MINT00791(b) (Mint 19/3/264-5) and Craig, NATM, 104.]
He was ordered by the Treasury to prepare himself for the journey on 4 August 1716 and accordingly gave up his medical practice, but was not given orders to sail [from Germany] until 5 September. Further delays were occasioned by a storm during the voyage, by lack of funds (despite a letter to London on the subject, which went unanswered) and by the discovery that the mine had been sealed up, meaning that workmen had to be taken on to open it. Details of his various expenses. Brandshagen was forced to borrow £66 to keep the expedition going. Finally he was 'hindered to deliver my businesse [ie. his report on the mine, MINT00788 (Mint 19/3/221-6)] to Your Lordships till the 29th of Aprill' [he does not say by what].
My Lords.
May it please Your Lordships.
That it was the 4th of August
when my Lord Tonshend ordered me to keep
myself every day ready to go to Scotland to inspect r.
dingly, and less of my practice of Physick and other
Affairs.
It was then allowed me 60 pounds for
my
and Materials as I should be in want of for
trying and examining the Mine and
as I could then judge. But I got not the
money out of the th of Augus
and my Instruction not till the 5th. of September,
and then I could not get a Ship for Scotland
to carry over my things and myself till the
10th. of
things I had bought, from St Catharines, and
was 3 Weeks and two days in a dangerous
Voyage, and in two Rooms we last two Masts
and were price driven upon the Sand
gers
to me,
The things I bought here for the purpose
of the Mines came to 45
the 60li:
I came to Edinburgh, and by that means had
not the Allownace what my Workmen or
Assistants had, whom was allowed 30 li:
for their hourney without any other charges at
all.
The 13th of October I came to Edinburgh
and had a Conference with the Right Ho
the Earl of Lauderdale as also with Mr. Haldone
of Gleneagles and with Mr. Drummond as Com
missioners with him. I found in this Conferen
ce, that no Provision was made, neither for
myself, nor the two Hamiltons, nor for any incident charges.
My Lord Lauderdale and the other Commissioners
as well as myself had that time advice from London
that r.
upon the fundament, that he should shew me his
us, not to go the Mine before his arrival
which was shortly after, and he was then every
Minute ready to shew me his mine, but for want
of Money neither myself nor the Hamiltons could
then go, I wrote to London about it it, but got
no answer. This delay was a great mortifica
tion to me, therefore. I look'd about to get
Money, and was so happy as to borrow 66
Commissioners to the Mines, where r.
shewed us his Mine, and
Informer thereof) confirmed it was the same Mine
he brought the Oar of to London and made
an Affidavit of it.
But we found this Mine block'd up
with Stones,
not the least Corner was to be found, which
was not filled up therewith. I did set as
many Workmen to work as possibly I could
without hindering one an
clearing of the Mine did cost with the Tools
and other Materials for that businesse 28 l:
5