The Smelting of Copper in the Swansea District of South Wales

Decisions to be by plurality of votes.

To continue for a year or until others appointed.

Votes to be sent in writing.

Proportion of Votes to Shares.

The Oaths of the Officers of the Company to be taken within 14 days. Governor and Company, in Court assembled, have power to remove Officers.

Appointments in case of vacancies.

Persons who subscribe moneys and do not pay within 14 days may be disenfranchised.

The first Governor to take the Oath before the Lord Chief Justice or the Lord Mayor.

Judges, Mayors and public Officers to favour, aid, further, help and assist in all things according to the Charter.

Power to raise a joint-stock of any value, and to increase or reduce the

same.

The words of the Charter to be construed to the benefit of the Company.

It should be observed that this Charter gives no power to imprison shareholders, as did those of an earlier date.

A month later, a like Charter for Ireland, and two months after, another for New England in America, were granted by the same Sovereigns to the Governor and Company; and several years afterwards, I discovered that a fourth Charter, modifying dates for the election of officers and other working details, was granted by Queen ANNE, but it is quite unnecessary to trouble the reader with their particulars

Mr. John Wright is said to have come from Redbrook, in Gloucestershire, to act as Manager. I have been informed on good authority that while the Taibach Works were being constructed, the English Copper Company rented and used those of Sir H. Mackworth, at Melincrythan, near Neath. This, on the face of it, would appear to be a rather strange proceeding commercially; but I give the statement for what it is worth. From their erection to the present day, however, these works at Taibach have continued to be carried on with success. They are conveniently situated for coal of the right quality,

at a moderate cost, with ready carriage to and fro, through the ancient Borough and Port of Aberavon, now more generally known as Port Talbot. After the death of Mr. Wright, the management of the works fell to Mr. Philip Jones, father of Mr. William Jones, which latter gentleman was manager when Messrs. Vivian and Sons purchased the works in 1839, which gentlemen, it is said, revived and enlarged them on a perpetual lease, at a fine certain to the Landowner, Mr. Talbot, and they continue to this day under the personal supervision of one of the acting partners, A. Pendarvis Vivian, Esq., M.P. for Cornwall (West).

Happening to have balance sheets of the Llangavelach works for the years 1743 and 1745, I select those for '45, not only being very full of detail, but as giving interesting particulars relative to the partnership, and the then intended changes therein. "The Swansea Copper Works" are noticed in both these accounts, thus shewing that they were in operation in those years, a fact which I have observed only in them and one of the balance-sheets of the Forest Works, dated 1768. LANGUVELACK COPPER WORKS, SWANSEA.

"DR.

“ BALLANCE of the BOOKS OF THE CONCERNED.
THE 31 DECEMBER, 1745.

To James Laroche, of Bristol

,, Voyage to Lisbon per 5 Copper teaches*....

Consignments from the Works per cargo 28 December,