Journal entry – John Grey – 12 Jun 1833

Wednesday June 12th 

	I had arranged for setting out early this morng for Newlands, but the heavy rain prevented me. The Tyne was much flooded & when the rain ceased, afforded me a good opportunity of examining the embankment on the Dilston estate, which I did from end to end accompanied by Hall the contractor for the work. That commencing at Corbridge & extending along the south bank of the Tyne to the entrance of the Devil’s Water & again up the latter to the railway bridge, is in a very satisfactory condition, except in one place where the materials being sandy, the surface is not sufficiently covered with grass to secure the bank from washing, & must be sown with seed, or, which is better, be covered with turf from the plantation. Several trees also formerly noticed by Mr Hooper, should be cut down. Some growing in the bank injure it by shaking, & others from being too near, & collecting around them branches or any kind of floating wreck in floods, form eddies to the injury of the embankment – The purposed elevation of the Western embankment at the south end should be done forthwith. It stands there so near the river that there is no chance of getting soil for raising it, but from the adjoining fields of w[hic]h there are three growing Hay, Oats & Turnips.  Hall thinks it ought to be left till after harvest to save injury to the crops – but Octr & Novr are dangerous months for floods, & a flood coming upon a newly made bank is likely to take it away. Besides, should the water break over in its present condition & flow through the fields, it would do 100 times more damage than any injury that would be done to the tenants by removing the soil at present. Besides the embankment for saving the land from being overflowed, much expense has been incurred in securing the margin of the river, between which & the embankment there is flourishing plantation. This ought to be an object of constant attention, for a few pounds expended in repairing a breach or turning off a current, may eventually save an hundred – Though I could not see it today, being under water, I fear some of it is in a dangerous condition. While standing on the embankment, I saw a tree on the edge of the river, fall over & roll down the stream.

      I received a letter today from Mr Hetherington of Haydon Bridge saying that Mr J Walton had been disappointed in his intention of meeting Mr Hooper at Lowbyer on Monday to treat for the Inn there, and wished to know if I could settle the matter with him. I wrote immediately to Mr Walton expressing my regret that he had not seen Mr Hooper, who was anxious to have made the agreement with him, informing him that I had no direction regarding it, but that if chose to accept of Mr Hoopers terms, which I understood to be, a rent of 80£ for three years, with a deduction of 15£ from the first years rent, I thought he need not hesitate to make his arrangements for entering to the premises – requesting him at the same time to send his proposal to me, that I might communicate it to the commissioners. It is likely that Mr Hooper may ere now, have written to him on the subject.