Letter from Newton to an unknown recipient regarding an assay of ore

May it please yor Lordps           I have procured an assay to be made of the Oar wch your Lp sent to me, & send y{illeg}ou inclosed the Report of the Assayer. by which He found neither silver nor Lead nor any other metal in the Oar: but in melting assaying it some part of it evaporated in a sulphureous fume & the rest {illeg} became a cinder without yeilding any metall. He tells me that if he had had a sufficient quantity of Oar he would have made two or three {illeg} more assays. For a single aAssay is scarce to be trusted sufficient to ground a rep{illeg}ort upon by reason of the different natures of Oars, & unforeseen accidents. & the different natures of Oares. ; & He tells me also that the Oare wch I gave him was scarce sufficient to make a single assay: & that to enable him to make a rReport with assurance, there should have been a pound of oar or at the least half a pound, I am & that if I can help him to any more of the Oar he will repeat the Assay. I am
My Lord
                         yor Lordps most humble & most obedient Servt