By his Royal Highness the Prince Guardian of the Kingdom

George P. C. R.

Instructions which We (in his MatsMajestys name) do Will and require to be Observed by Iustus Brandshagen and his Assistant IJames Hamilton in the Survey and Tryall which they are to make of the Mine with the Mountain about it called Sr.Sir IJohn Erksines Mine in the Parish of Alva five miles from SterlingStirling East and by North.

You are to repaire with all convenient speed to the said Mine, And (having the assistance of IJohn Haldane of Glenagles Esqr. who is willing to Encourage and forward this business) you are to break off or cause to be broken off from each of the two Veins of Ore which are represented to be in the said Mine about Six or Eight pounds of Ore, the breaking off of the said Ore being to be performed in the presence of the said Mr. Haldane, and anyone or more of his sons together with Mr. Drumond Warden of his Maties.Majesties Mint at Edinburgh, or any other person whom the Earl of Lauderdale General of the said Mint shall think fit to send thither And you are to take Care, that the Ore which shall be broke off in the presence of the said persons be immediately sealed up in two papers with the respective seals of the said persons each paper to have an Inscription denoting what Vein the Parcel of Ore contained therein is taken from, which Inscriptions are to be signed by yourselves and the aforenamed persons as Witnesses, and then to be safely packed up and sent by the best and speediest speediest Conveyance to the Lords Comismmissioners of his Maties.Majesties Treasury in Order to be Assayed in London.

You are also with the assistance and in the presence of the persons aforenamed to break or cause to be broke off other PeicesPieces of Ore from each of the said Veins and make Assays thereof upon or near the place where the same shall be taken and repeat the said Assay Once or twice if need by And the Assays so made with Your Report thereupon are to be immediately sealed up (the Assays upon each Vein in district Papers) with the respective seals of the said persons, And to be inscribed by them in Testimony that they were made before them, Which Assays after being so sealed Witnessed and secured as aforesaid are also to be sent by the same Conveyance to the said Commmissioners of his Maties.Majesties Treasury.

You are to give a discription in Writing of the said two Veins as to their breadth depth and distance from One another and to Report which way they run and what sort of Earth or Stone they are lodged in, And what is the depth of the Mine and the distance of each Vein from the Surface of the Mountaine where the Mine is lodged, And whether in that Mine there be any beds of Silver or Copper Ore besides the said two Veins.

You are in the presence and with the assistance of the persons aforesaid to Enquire after and search for Sundry Casks which We are informed were filled with about Forty Tons of Ore dug out of the said Mine in the time of the late Rebellion and buried in the Northwest side of the Lady Erskine's house and upon finding of the said Ore to make an Assay & Report thereof in the presence of the persons aforenamed, And then to secure the remaining Ore in such place and manner as You with the persons aforenamed or the Major part of you shall think fit.

You are carefully to View the Burn or Channell made259 made in the Southside of the Mountaine by Floods running down about three or four Furlongs Westward from the said Mine and see what Sparrs and other signs of Minerals are therein And in Case any Ores of Minerals or Mettals be found there You are in the presence of the persons aforenamed to Assay the same, and Report the Produce, Witnessing Sealing up and discribing all assays to be made by you in like manner as afore directed.

You are Carefully to View all Sr.Sir IJohn Erskines part of the Mountain, and Observe what signs of Minerals appear any where above ground, and Report what you find as also any Credible Informations that may be given you concerning any other Mines of Copper or Lead in that Mountain

You are also to repair to a Copper Mine which lyes (as We are informed) about two miles Westward from the aforesaid Mine, And procure some peicespieces of that Ore and make Assays thereof in the presence of the aforesaid persons And see how much Copper and how much Silver it holds.

Lastly You IJames Hamilton are to be Ayding and assisting to Iustus Brandshagen in all your Observations Tryalls and Experiments, And both of you to use your best Skill and dilligence in performing the same And inn Case there be any other Mines within three or four Miles of the Mine hereby meant to be tryed You may repair thither and Examine what Silver the Ore may Containe, And you are to make a return in Writing of all your proceedings herein to the ComissionersCommissioners of his Maties.Majesties Treasury with the utmost Expedition that may be

Given at his Maties.Majesties Court at Hampton Court the third day of September 1716 In the third year of his Majesties Reign.