Letter – Robert Stagg – 11 May 1808

							Alston 11th. May 1808

Honoured Masters



Sirs,

      I have received yours of the 5th. Inst. inclosing two Letters from Robert Hayton to you, and at your Request shall candidly and faithfully give you my Sentiments on their Contents: though I feel it a painful Task, for I am so weak I am unable to write myself, all I can do is to dictate to my Son.

      When Robt. Hayton was first appointed to his late Situation under you, he was unacquainted with the Business and of Consequence did not manage it well for some Time, which obliged us to find Fault several Times, when this was done he always behaved in a becoming Manner and promised to take all possible Pains in future, and for some Time past we have seen Nothing to complain of: he got acquainted with his Business and managed it very well; and so far as we have observed he has been diligent and steady, and except what has come from Mr. Dodd we never heard any Thing improper laid to his Charge. I sincerely believe his chief Fault with Mr. Dodd has been too warmly vindicating his own Conduct, when Mr. Dodd charged him with any Thing, and though he might be blameless, yet this is a Manner Mr. Dodd cannot put up with. Hayton’s Account of his Quarrel with Mr. Dodd is, I dare say, very just and I believe the Country considers it a most scandalous Thing indeed for a Person to be turned out of his Situation on Account of such a foolish Piece of Business, and for my Part I can view it in no other Light.

      I attempted to interfere and begged Mr. Dodd to be reconciled to Hayton again, but all in vain: he was quite resolute and violent against him, observing he was determined Hayton should quit the Company’s Service or otherwise he would himself.

      What Robt. Hayton observes about Mr. Dodd Junr. in his first Letter to you is too true; he has grown very dissipated and not at all likely to attend to his Business: he went off to Gretna Green some Time since with an Innkeeper’s Daughter at Nenthead, to the no small Mortification and Grief of his Parents and Friends. I understand the Business of his Appointment to attend the Delivery of Wood &c at the Mines is left to be done by the Company’s Wagemen, but much neglected. He has as Hayton observes a Share, along with Isaac Hornsby and John Hutchinson, of the Shop at Nenthead: they were joint Agents to the Durham Bank, but now only Hutchinson’s Name appears in the Banking Business, though I understand it is carried on the same as before: This Shop Business is quite scandalous and what I still considered altogether improper for Agents or their Families to be concerned in. I always believed Mr. Dodd had a Share with his Brother John of the Gunpowder Business: It is kept along with the Company’s in your Gunpowder House and your Agent delivers it (R. Hayton had this to do till his Dismission) to the Workmen. They supply the Workmen with upwards of one half of what is used at your Mines, which is a capital Business to them as you will find if you enquire farther into it. I must also now mention to you that there is a Deficiency in the Stock of 94 Half Barrels of the Company’s Gunpowder at your Gunpowder House at Nenthead: how this loss has arisen I cannot tell, you may judge by what probable Means.

      The Trade carried on with the Company’s Mines is most notorious: what Hayton mentions is a Fact. At Ireshopeburn, Fairhill, Fletchers &c &c Bargains, or rather the Mines, have been let for a Term of Years, the Partners taking such Mines paying a trifling Sum per Bing to the Company: but the Acct. at the End of the Year is made up to appear as though <this is> Nenthead raised Ore and worked dead Work in the <regular> Way, for Mr Dodd always buys the Ore.

      Ireshopeburn Mine was let in this Form last Year, and raised near two hundred Bings of Ore (Isaac Hornsby and his Partner in the Shop at Nenthead (Hutchinson) are Parties in the Bargain) you will probably remember this Mine never raised any Ore of Consequence before. Mr. Dodd. Tho. Dodd Junr., Hornsby &c have Hirelings that are Partners in such Bargains. The Mine Accts. are not as you will expect a Fair Representation of what has been done, but are made up just as will best preserve Appearances. It is the Outcry of the whole Country that Mr. Dodd and his Friends monopolise almost every kind of Business that is any Way connected with your Concerns, and he has ordered Advances to a considerable Amount for Persons who were in the Balance Paper, for the express Purpose of paying himself, his Brother, Hornsby, &c. Robert Hayton frequently had this Money to take up or collect for the above Purpose on the Month Day: such as this has really brought the Company’s Business into Confusion and Disrepute.

      It is a general Opinion that John Dodd is quite an useless Person and also a very expensive one to the Company.

      I suppose Robt. Hayton speaking about Mr. Dodd’s Farm, refers to the one he took of Mr. Rippon, when you took a Lease of Rippon’s Mines. The Farm is managed and worked by a Workman of the Comp[an]y’s and has still been, who has always a full Year’s Wages entered in the Stanhope Mine Accounts.

      What Robt. Hayton says about Mr. Dodd’s coals and Candles is just: which will appear in the Accts. which he (Hayton) kept and by our Due Papers. 	I have always been quite surprised at you allowing Mr. Dodd to be Agent for the Dean and Chapter Durham, when at the same time he cannot do your own Business without so many Assistants.

      Robert Hayton it is evident writes in the Way of Retaliation. He would not have brought these Things to Light had this Quarrel not taken Place, but though this is the Case I cannot detect him in asserting any Thing really false and unfounded, though had Mr. Dodd the Explaining he would give several Things a different colouring: however Hayton has given you a Clue which may lead to interesting Discoveries if you think proper to investigate Things more thoroughly.

      What he says about several in the Country being fit for Mr. Dodd’s Place is rash and foolish.  I know not one in the Country suitable that can be got.

      I have not explained every Particular which Hayton has brought forward: but if you require further Information on any Thing I will give you it to the best of my Knowledge and Belief.

      On reviewing what I have been obliged to remark on Mr. Dodd’s Conduct, I cannot help being pained at having such a Task assigned me. However what I have said is without Prejudice or Partiality and what I conceive you require and expect of me. 

      Things of this kind I expected would come to your Knowledge at some time or other but I now hoped to have been done with the Business of this Life before such an Opening out had taken Place.



      I am most respectfully Gentlemen Your most obedient humble Servant

      Robert Stagg