148 



SIR HUGH MYDDELTON'S 



PART II. 



to be spent, not hundreds, but thousands ; ! and first of all his 

 Majesty's interest must be got. As for myself, I am grown into 

 years, and full of business here at the mynes, the river at London, 

 and other places, my weeklie charge being above 200?. ; which 

 maketh me verie unwillinge to undertake any other worke ; and 

 the least of theis, whether the drowned lands or mynes, requireth a 

 whole man, with a large purse. Noble sir, my desire is great to 

 see you, which should draw me a farr longer waie ; yet such are 

 my occasions at this tyme here, for the settlinge of this great 

 worke, that I can hardlie be spared one howr in a daie. My wieff 

 being also here, I cannot leave her in a strange place. Yet my 

 love to publique works, and desire to see you (if God permit), male 

 another tyme drawe me into those parts. Soe with my heartie 

 cofnendations I cofnit you and all your good desires to God. 



" Your assured lovinge couzin to command, 



11 HUGH MYDDELTON. 



" Lodge, Sept. 2nd, 1625." 



At the date of this letter Sir Hugh was an old man 

 of seventy, yet he still continued industriously to apply 

 himself to business affairs. Like most men with whom 

 work has become a habit, he could riot be idle, and an 

 active pursuit seems to have become necessary to his 

 happiness. To the close of his life we find him engaged 

 in correspondence on various subjects on mining, 

 draining, and general affairs. When in London he 

 continued to occupy his house in Bassishaw-street, where 

 the goldsmith business was carried on in his absence by 

 his son William. Thus we find him addressing a letter 

 to Lord Secretary Con way, dated Bassishaw-street, 15th 



1 A long time passed before the at- 

 tempt was made to reclaim the large 

 tract of land at Traeth-Mawr ; but 

 after the lapse of two centuries, it was 

 undertaken by William Alexander 

 Madocks, Esq., and accomplished in 

 spite of many formidable difficulties. 

 Two thousand acres of Penmoria 

 Marsh were first enclosed on the 

 western side of the river, after which 

 :n i embankment was constructed across 

 the estuary, about a mile in length, 



by which 6000 additional acres were 

 secured. The sums expended on the 

 works are said to have exceeded 

 100,0002.; but the expenditure has 

 proved productive, and the principal 

 part of the reclaimed land is now 

 under cultivation. Tremadoc, or Ma- 

 dock's Town, and Tort Madoc, are 

 two thriving towns, built, by the pro- 

 prietor on the estate thus won from 

 the sea. 



