Ravensworth Castle Decem. 4th 1739
To Mr Richd. Horne
Dear Sir
I Reced. Yours in answer to Mr Boags of 23d Nov. last in relation to Thos. Piggs Memorials, touching the Farmes held by John Atkinson of Haydon Bridge, & Inclosed I send you an exact Copy of the Instrument which I sent Mr Boag 19 Decem. 1736 as it was then signed as a Copy by me, so that after it receives the Sanction of your indorsing it will lye as Snugg in it its proper place, as if it had been there ever sinc
Ravensworth Castle December 4th 1739
To William Corbett Esqr.
Sir
We received Yours with the Bords Minutes of the 28th November last & Mr Jefferson’s Submission, in which (as well as the others) we will observe the Boards Commands. I have not wrote to Mr jefferson this Post, Mr Boag being from home, s it will have more weight to write a Joynt Letter.
We have gott a Coppy made of the Grand Indenture between the Lord & Tennants at Keswick &c, Six Sheets of
Rav. Castle December 7th 1739
To the Rever.d Mr Thos. Jefferson at Cockermouth
Sir
We reced. a Letter from the Secretary of Greenwich Hospital dated the 28 Nov last whereby we are comanded to acquaint you that after the Submission you have made to the Commiss[ioners] of Greenwich Hospital they have thought fitt to drop the prosecution against you for Cutting down Birch, Alder and other Wood in case you Imediatly pay the value thereof and all Charges which they have been at on th
Ravensworth Castle Decr 7th 1739
To Wm Corbett Esqr.
Sir
This day we have Incerted an Advertisment in the Newcastle Journal for letting the severall farmes given up at Martinmas Against Mayday Next & the same will be published by such other methods as will make the letting publick. We apprehend we cannot by any Advertisment now to be made for letting against mayday Next lett longer than one year, for as the sev<era>l farmes were only given up at Martinmas Six Months pr
A Coppy of Mr Timothy Wranghams Letter to Messrs Walton & Boag the Originall sent the Board 11th December 1739
Gentlemen
I some time agoe Sent you our York Bill, and my own in the Cause between Wood & Moore, a Coppy of which You afterwards returned to me, nmost Sadly mangled & Clipt by some new Spirituall Prothonotary.
The Gentlemen at York are determined to Justifye their Bills and insist that I shall either Sue or be Sued for the whole Money.
As for my part I think I
Ravensworth Castle Decemr 11. 1739
To Wm Corbett Esqr
Sir
Inclosed we send you our Cash Accot. for last Month, by which there is a Ballance of £52.7.5 in our favour, & Likewise under two Covers have sent you the remaining part of the Grand Indenture at Keswick from No.24 Exclusive to No.27 Inclusive in three sheets & the Coppys of three more Indentures which relate to it, all which will Hope Come Safe. Mr Simpson shoud be ordered payment for thes Coppys, which you will
Ravensworth Castle Decem 19th 1739
To Mr Downs
Sir
We reced. yours and Observe the Care you have taken to Secure the Arrears due from Green Dixon & Bell, the first of which proposes to give Robert Farbridges Security for the paymt. of his Arrear, wch we have consented to Accept, if you think the Security be good, but if not the Goods must be sold tomorrow pursuant to the Notice. He has promised to be with you this night or tomorrow morning to give you Farbridge’s Security
Cockermouth 27 Dec. 1739
Worthy Sirs
Yours of the 7th Inst. I reced., wherein you acquaint me of a Letter from the Secretary of Greenwich Hospitle, whereby you were Directed to give me an Accot. that after the Submission I had made to the Comm[ission]ers of Greenwich Hosp. they have thought fitt to drop the prosecution upon the Accot. of my paying for the wood & all Charges; To these Particulars I desire you woulod Acquaint Mr Secretary that I submitt myself intirely to the Honour
Mem.
Wooley Farm has Inclosed from the Common of Bulbeck Lordship about 16 ½ Acres of Land many Years agoe, it is Supposed Time Immemorial for which a Rent of 5/6d per Ann has been p[ai]d to the Lord. Since that time about 34 Acres of Common has been Inclosed for which as well as 38 Acres part Freehold & part Common (the 16 ½ Acres above mentioned) the Lord of the Mannor Claims 4s per Acre. It was tho[ugh]t proper that the Tennant of Wooly pay the antient Rent of 5/6d per Acre as usuall
Rav. Castle 8 January 1739/40
To Mr William Radley
Sir
We reced. yours of the 27 Ult on the 6 Jan at our Return from a West Country Journey, where we had been rec. some of the D[erwentwat]er Rents & settling several things with the Ten.ts upon the Estate.
We also reced. your former writt abt. a fortnight agoe, both which Intimated to us what is required abt. Numbring the Trees in the D[erwentwat]er woods that was valued in 1737 in order for Sale, & Assoon as we reced.
Ravensworth Castle January 8th 1739/40
To Wm Corbett Esqr. Pay Office
Sir
In Obedience to the order of the Board of the 28 Novr. last we wrote to the Rever<en>d Mr Thos. Jefferson of Cockermouth , & acquainted him that unless he would make Satisfaction for the wood he had cutt down, in the Manour of Thornthwaite, & pay the charges of the prosecution begun against him the s.d prosecution would be carryed on; & we reced. the Enclosed of the 27 December last for a
Gentlemen,
I have inclosed you a Bill of the Charge accrude in the cause Mr Bunting and really considering the Cause of action & the Circumstances of the proceedings the Expence could not be avoided As to Mr Bunting’s ill usage & the necessity of commencing the prosecution you are Sensable of, you will perhaps think the Expences of this cause is high but if you will look into the bill & what I shall here mention touching the Coarse of this Contest perhaps you’ll think it
Ravensworth Castle Jan 18th 1739/40
To Wm Corbett Esq.
Sir
Inclosed we send you our Cash accot. for Lst month in which remains a ballance of £434:8:10 ¼ in favour of the Hospitall.
We reced. yours wth the boards minutes of the 19 Dec last which we duly observe & since we reced. the same we have pursuant to the Boards order Lett the following farms viz:
Lett Mr Thomas Westgarth Greymare Colliery for one yr from Mayday next at £39; Lett Geo: Blackburn Nether holmes for one
Rav. Castle January 25: 1739/40
Dear Sir
Inclosed we send you a Bill on Mr Benjamin Skutt dated this day and payable 28 days after date for Six hundred pounds on accot. of the Rents & proffits of the Derwentwater Estate for which we have made you D[ebt]or accordingly.
The Weather is here verry Severe – being the Sharpest frost that has been known but that is no news to you to be sure as it seems to be a general Callamity. Our Compliments attend all our good friends at Greenw
Rav. Castle January 27: 1739/40
To Mr Richd. Horne
Dear Sir
I Received yours last Post but I have not had an opportunity of acquainting Mr Boag with the Contents but tomorrow I shall. For my own part I am ready & willing to Engage with Mr Corbett & you in the undertaking, but as you will both be governed by our opinion of the prospect, I coud wish to be better able to advise you before we do Engage I was at Alston the beginning of this month where I saw Mr Panton wh
Ravensworth Castle Jan 29th 1739/40
To Mr Pearson
We desire that you will gett Isaac Todd and any other man skilled in valuing wood that lives in your Nighbourhood and they with yourself goe to Thornthwaite and put a value upon what Wood has been cutt by any of he Tenants since we was concerned. We beg you will be very Exact as to the valuation, and sett down each Tenants name, and the sort & quantity Cutt from time to time and Also the bark with a distinct valuation to each. Whe
Rav. Castle 29th Jan 1739/40
To Mr Maule at Greenwich
Dr Sr
I should very glad Nay Exceedingly so to hear from you about our accot. for the year 1738. Mr Hunter has had it now a long while to Approve off, And consider its yet to come here & be swore to and after all to pass the Board.
We have here most Sevear frosty Weather and I fancey its not very warme at Greenwich. I wish I could be (were it possable) but a day ot two at Greenwich to see Mrs Maule and other friends at
Ravensworth Castle Jan 29th 1739/40
To Mr John Maule
Dr Sir
We were favoured with yours last post & are sorry you have had so much trouble in relation to our accot. which has so long laid before Mr Hunter, but it realy is surprizing that nothing more is done in it, but the reason seams to be plaine.
As to Mr Woodhouses Expectations we can no way Judge how to Make him a Gratification, for we know of
Ravensworth Castle 12 Feb 1739/40
To Wm Corbett Esqr
Pay Office
Sir
Inclosed is our Cash Accot. for last Month, by which please to observe their is a Ballance in our hands of £215:9:10¼ in favour of the Hospital.
Inclosed is also our Contingent Accot. for 3 Months Ending the 31st December 1739 amounting to £127:18:4½ for the Boards approbation. The greatest part of this sum has been paid for Leading Materials for Building & Repairing housing on the estate.
We reced
Ravensworth Castle Feb 18 1739/40
To Wm Corbett esqr
Inclosed is an accot of Bricks & Tyles made in Dilston Park for the Hospital for last year Ending 31 Dec. 1739 by which please to observe the gain for that year is but £35:7:11½ which is ocasion’d by the wett season last year which has hinder’d all people from building or repairing in this Country very much, Also Observe the Stock resting is but valued at the same price they cost making.
Inclosed is also John Skin
Ravensworth Castle 24 February 1739/40
To Mr Jos. Pearson, Keswick
Mr Pearson
We reced. Yours of the 17 Inst & wonder much if Jno. Dixon & Wm. banks should offer to give up <Watsons> Park when they Absolutely took it for 21 Years, but as they have given it up & asks an Abatem<en>t we cannot Agree to that; but we Desire it may be publickly Called a Week before Lett & doe you lett it to the best bidder without favour of Affection & then if they prov
Ravensworth Castle Feb 22d 1739/40
Sir,
The Board were pleased by this Minute of the 28 Novembr last to Order Us to Send them a pticular acct. of the Condition of the house of Dilston hall, the Number of Rooms & Offices, how much ground the house stands upon, wth the Gardens, & to Estimate what the Materials wou’d Sell for if pull’d down.
In Obedience therefore to their Command we Send you herewith Inclos’d & under another Cover, a Ground Plann of the House & Ga
Ravensworth Castle 24th Febry 1739/40
To Wm Corbett Esqr, Pay Office &c
Sir,
Inclosed is the uprights of Dilston Hall fronts No.5 which was forgott or overlook’d in putting up the other plans last post, & we hope it will come time enough before the rest be laid before the Board, we are very sorry it happen’d not to be sent with the rest.
We recd. the Boards minutes of the 16 Inst & will carefully observe them. we are
Sr Your very Humb. Servts
N. Wa
Ravensworth Castle 24 Febry 1739/40
To Mr R Horne at the Pay Office
Dear Sir
We reced. your kind Letter abt. what happened abt. Mr Downs’s Bill & as it was a thing we could not possibly avoid we are Thankfull its allowed & Atribute this Favour to yourself & other good friends at the Helme & Assures you we will Muddle no more in that way.
Mr Pantoun Mr Hayleys Agent has not answered severall Queries sent him by us but only writes he has not yet gott the Leas
Harbert Law February 25th 1739
To Mr R. Horn, 11th March 1739/40 Original sent.
Dear Sir,
I reced. yours of the 12 Inst. with the £50 by Roben Dickinson for which I thank you, as I do if you will Hon<ou>r my Bill for £50 more at Ladyday which I shall draw payable to John Friend or order.
I have Likewise reced. Yours of the 4th as per my last, Mr McDowells Lease is not yet come to hand, Howsoon it does I shall send it for your Perusall, The farm Dues is 1/9th p<ar&