Messrs Finlay Hodgson & Co London Newcastle Decr 10th 1832
Dear Sirs
I have the pleasure to inform you that Messrs Walkers Parker & Co have this day purchased 5000 p[iece]s Refd Lead at £12-10- 10,000 p[iece]s Common Lead at £12- and 1000 p[iece]s Slag at £11-10- To be delivered 5000 p[iece]s monthly commencing 1st Jany next and to be paid for in Bills as usual 6? Mos from 1st of each month. I was absent the whole of last week at the mines which prevented me repl
London Dec 11 1832
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you, that I have today, had an interview with Lord Auckland, and have finally agreed to accept the Receivership of the Greenwich Hospital estates, upon the terms on which you were pleased to offer it to me, Subject to such alterations as to <minor> arrangements, as the report of Mr Hooper, after a residence on the spot, may decide the Commissioners to adopt. In the meantime, I shall strictly attend to your injunctions of secrecy, r
Messrs Isaac Spencer & Son York Newcastle Decr 12th 1832
Sirs
I duly recd your lre of the 29thNovr last with cheque value £1-18s- 8d The discount on your payment of £20 was 6s/8d and not £1 as in your statement. You are well aware that no allowance has at any time been made for freight or any other charge, & that our invariable practice is to deliver our Lead & Litharge at Blaydon subject to all subsequent charges.
Your Balance therefor remains £1-1s10d
Messrs Sigar Champeny & Co Beverly Newcastle Decr 12th 1832
Sirs
I beg reference to my lre of the 12th Nov & request immediate payment of the balance of you’re a/c £3-2s-5d due to the Exors of the late Mrs Beaumont
I am Sirs yr Obdt Servt
Benj Johnson
Messrs Finlay Hodgson & Co London Newcastle Decr 27th 1832
Dear Sirs
I am favoured with your letter of the 24th inst & enclose you a copy of Mr Taylor’s lre to Mr Pattinson & one from Mr Henry – both relating to the stock of Lead and Lead Ore on the Western side of the Island.
I have just had Mr Parker – he offers £12/10- & £13- for 10,000 p[iece]s which I have declined. Mr Beaumont who is here has directed me to offer him that quantity a
T Key Newcastle Decr 29th 1832
Dear Sir
Above I hand you invoice of 300 p[iece]s Comm Lead which I wish to draw your partic attention to. It was made at Rookhope mill somewhat different from the usual process – we expect you will find it of a much softer quality & we are anxious to receive your report upon it . As you have a balance of Cash on hand I will thank you to pay Finlay & Hodgson £600 to Mr Bts credit, & any further sum you can spare to Mr Bt
Mr Jn Stagg Stockton Newcastle Dec 29th 1832
Dear Sir,
In answer to your lre of the 20th Inst our present price for 500 p[iece]s Refd Lead & 500 p[iece]s Comm including (1/10 Slag) will be £13-10s & £13 – usual credit & weight. We are not anxious to make sales at present & I am induced to make you this offer to keep up old connection. I am Dr Sir Yrs truly Benj Johnson
Messrs Finlay Hodgson & Co London Newcastle Decr 31st 1832
Dear Sirs
I have duly recd your lres of the 2th & 29th inst Mr Parker called this morning to decline my offer of 10,000 p[iece]s at £13-10s & £13 which I by no means regret. The delivery could not have taken place before March or April & I have no doubt before that period to see a great improvement in the Lead Market. I have a lre from Mr Key this morning advising of his having to Messrs Coats &
Tuesday 1st January 1833
A letter from Mr Clayton, transmitting a plan of a projected New Road. Arranged with Mr Spencer that in the event of the Vicar of Chollerton establishing his claim to the Hay and Calves Tithes on the enclosed stinted pasture, which formed part of the ancient land, and, if it is to be presumed, therefore included in t he modus, that the Hospital would indemnify him, and that on this arrangement being recorded in the Board’s minutes at the Hospital, Mr Spencer would
Wednesday 2nd January 1833
An interview with Mr Pringle Lessee of Borewell Farm, who claims compensation, to the amount of more than £100 a year from 1821 to the present time, and at least that sum for the remainder of his term, on account of damage sustained by inroads made on his farm for Railways, shafts, etc by the Lessee of Scremerston Colliery.
In 1823 Mr Locker saw his green wheat cut up to clear a shaft, and daily injuries have been ever since done.
Informed him that what
Thursday 3rd January 1833
Saw Mr Bell, Bailiff of Hart-burn Grange etc., and told him the Hospital would not longer require his services, but that I should recommend the Board to allow him a Pension of £20 a year.
Wrote to Mr Crowhall on the damage done by the Railway Company to the Tenants.
Saw Mr Cookson relative to the Wharf, and also arranged with him as to the Rents of Meldon, the Hospital to receive to Nov[embe]r and repay to him from Septr. Mr Cookson claimed for dilapidation
Friday 4th January 1833
Rec’d £92 from Blackburn – Wooley Farm.
Decided on Mr Dickinson being retained as Clerk, and that Mr Bewcastle should have a retiring pension of £80, and Mr Martin one of £40 a year.
Had an interview with Mr Boyd, of Ridley, Bigge & Co Bank, and opened an account with them.
Instructed Mr Burnhope [Burnup] to value the Lead Wharf. Received Mr Storey’s answer declining to be Bailiff, as he considered it would be more than he could perform.
Dinner with Beaumont at the Recorder's Club. It was the anniversary and Mr. Dixon was in the Chair. Most of the party were of the Tory faction, but everything went off very well and with apparent good humour. Beaumont and I sat by John Clayton and I cou'd not help laughing in my sleeve at the frankness and candour which were exhibited on both sides.
Saturday 5th January 1833
Rent from <Soppitt> Newlands W. Farm £38.10
Rent from Pringle Borewell Farm £155
Rent fr. Robinson £40
Received a letter from Mr Crawhall stating the desire of the Railway Compy to meet the wishes of the C[ommissioners] of the Hospl, as to compensating the Tenants, and that Mr B Johnson is instructed to call upon me, and explain.
Received Mr Burnup’s valuation of the Lead Wharf - £200
The tenant of Scremerston fishery claimed re-payme
Monday 7th January 1833
Applications for the situation of the Bailiff from Mr F Lee, Mr Bewcastle, Mr Todds.
Letters from Mr Cookson, as to Needless Hall N Farm, the ejecting of Coxons, claim to Thrashing Machines, and offer for the Lead Wharf - £300.
Waited upon Mr Cookson and informed him that I could not give up the claim to the Threshing Machine purchased of the former Tenants of Needlesshall North farm, and that the Machine on the South Farm was still the property of the Tenant
Tuesday 8th January 1833
Received Rent from R Winskills <Ropy> for Cooper’s Dyke Head £5.0.0 –
Mr Cookson applied to me about the Lease of the Lead wharf, which he for the first time had discovered to be a 14 years Lease, and not 21 years as he had supposed – consequently of comparatively small value, as the Corporation Laws make 21 year lease to be renewable from time to time, [underlined: ‘without any additional rent’], whereas 14 years leases are re-valued at the end o
Wednesday 9th January 1833
Engaged wholly in arranging for the removal of the Office.
Sir,
I am wishing to hope that I ought not to ascribe your not having answered my last letter respecting Mr Scott to any unkind feeling towards me My motive was to ascertain whether that suffering individual had a claim which if established would somewhat alleviate his suffering & in applying to you I give you credit for that good feeling which would secure to him your sympathy in aid of my wish that he should have justice – your general character justifies the continuance of my
Thursday 10th January 1833
Letter from Mr Carr of the Branch Bank, in answer to mine of yesterday, referred both to Mr Pierney. Informed Mr Carr that I would communicate further with him, on receiving an answer from London.
Thos Hedley Newcastle Jany 10th 1833
Dear Sir
At present we are out of stock of Lead & decline selling in the expectation of a considerable advance in the Market
Your Obdt Servt BJ
Messrs Grace & Freeman Newcastle on Tyne Jany 10th 1833
Dear Sirs
The above 300 p[iece]s are shipped on board the Hudgill Capt Curry who sails on Saty next we shall continue to Ship you the qty at the commencement of each month until June, in conformity to your contract with Mr Hodgson
Yr mo Obdt Servt Benj Johnson
I went with Beaumont to Hexham where a public dinner was given to him by a large body of electors. Mr. Blackett was in the chair and the day went off very well. Blackett made an excellent chairman and spoke very well and like a gentleman. Beaumont made the most regular and statesmanlike speech I ever heard him deliver. I had not prepared myself so much as I ought to have done but being a good deal excited by the general enthusiasm which prevailed, I spoke with considerable force and effe
Friday 11th January 1833
Wrote to Mr Hugh Taylor on the subject of the Duke of Northumberland’s offer for Wark Barony, stating the grounds on which the C. of G.H. expect a further price, and proposing on their part to convey the Tithe Allotment called Ellingham Rig, worth six hundred Pounds, in addition to what had been before proposed, if the Duke will consent to give Fourteen thousand pounds.
Had an interview with Mr Taylor afterwards, and fully discussed the matter, ending in his
Saturday 12th January 1833
Recd Rent £5.10 from Mr Lowes Newlands, Smith’s Housing etc..
Mr Bell informed me that Wardle and Lenox hard agreed to settle their dispute, and that he would recover the £45 for the Hospital. Reported the case to the Board.
John Grey Esqr 12th Jany 1833 Promulgation of His intended appt
[printed newspaper notice affixed to cover sheet:]
The change in the management of the Greenwich Hospital estates, in this country, we believe is now arranged, and will be carried into effect in April. Instead of two Receivers, three clerks and six bailiffs, as at present, we understand it is intended only to have one of each, and the business will be transacted at Hexham instead of this town. It is currently reported that Mr