Letter from Thomas Christy to Henry Pease

London 18 July 1846
My Dear Friend,
The scarsity and dearness of coals in the Eastern Counties is astonishing considering the cheapness at the pits mouth and the people suffer in Essex now that improved cultivation destroys Wood & Trees very much.
Surely the Newcastle & Darlington RR might buy the Great North of England and then make the small piece from York to join the Eastern Counties.
I would lend a little money for that object ----- all Coals must soon travel on Railroads.
I found at Bristol one single Engine could move 1000 Tons 30 miles an hour --- now at ¾ p pr. Ton pr. Mile this Engine could earn £1080 a day ---
s
so that if your Coals cost in Durham a Ton --- 8
they ought to be laid down at Chelmsford for ---16
24

If Infr. Coals could be had for --- 5
the Carriage --- 16
21

our best Coals cost about 30 to 35/
inferior Coals ------------- 26 to 28/

there is some talk of a Coal Company to bring them from

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Colchester and of another to bring them from Woolwich but transhipment taxes all things excessively.
I have a few Great North of England shares and I should be very glad to see the Durham people take up the other unmade part of the line for no greater comfort could come to the Eastern Counties than Coals. £10.000 a mile thro flat country would make a line and if speculators could be kept out of it I think an excellent return would be made for a judicious investment.

I remain your friend
Thomas Christy