Journal entry – John Grey – 14 Nov 1834

Friday 14th November 



      Received a Letter from Mr Bell formerly Bailiff of Meldon & Hartburn District, respecting his Pension, the payment of which was I understand, suspended on account of some loss having occurred to the Hospital by his allowing an away going Tenant to infringe his Covenants. This matter was under Mr Hoopers direction, & will be found adverted to in his Journal.  Bell is a very old Man.

[marginal pencil annotation: ‘Lost to Hospital £45. £40 will have been paid off on 3rd Jan 1835. Excuse the £5 after 3rd Jan’]

      I have been applied to by the Agent of the Duke of Northd to put the Buildings at High Green Colliery into Repair & in reply informed him that although a Tenant becoming bound to maintain the repair of buildings through a Lease, is intitled to have them put into repair at the beginning, I conceived that as Purchaser was understood to take & enter upon them ‘in statue quo’ unless the Agreement of Sale contained a Condition to the contrary. I referred him to Mr Fenwick.

      Received also a Letter which I forward to the Board from Messers Nairn of Waren, applying for a renewal of their Lease of the Mills. I suggested some alterations.  Having a large Capital embarked in the Concern, it is quite natural that they should wish to know before the term comes to a close, how they are to dispose of it, & if any advantage is to arise from the new arrangements which they propose the sooner the advantage can be obtained the better for all parties.  Messrs Nairn are most respectable Tradesmen with abundant Capital, & have formed a good business connexion.  Having obtained some Property near the Shipping place, they could undoubtedly erect Steam Machinery there to carry on their business but they would of course greatly prefer to give a good Rent for their present Mills, than incur the competition of them in the neighbourhood. It might be satisfactory to the Board, to receive from Messrs Nairn a Plan & Estimate of the additions proposed to be made to the Mill, with a Proposal as to the rate of Interest they would give upon the outlay, or the portion of expense they would engage to bear. The safest principle, if they could be induced to agree to it, would be for them to purchase all the present Machinery and erect any new that they may require, with a Covenant to be repaid by valuation whenever they quit the Premises. Was engaged the whole day in negotiations with various Tenants for new Leases, & arranging the Covenants etc of Farms, which will be reported of hereafter.