Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Apr 1834

Friday 18th April 1834



Heard from Mr Stephens that he had completed the delivery of Duty Ore for the last Quarter, to Messrs Wilson & Co.  The whole Quantity weighed have been 674 Bings, & the duty upon it 105 Bings and 1/2 a Cwt.



Had by appointment an interview with the Lessees of Stublick Colliery & a long discussion arising out of an application which had been made to them on the part of Mr Beaumont’s Agent, to supply him with Coals for Smelting, in case of his renting the Low Mill at Langley from the present Lessees, at a lower rate than that which their Lease prescribes, at the fixed price at which the Hospitals Lessees at Langley Mills are to be supplied.  Having had no intimation from the Lessees of Langley Mills of their wish or intention to sublet any part of them, the inference is that they consider themselves at liberty to do so without especial permission from the Board.  And on examining the Dft Lease in the Office, I find no clause prohibiting it, but until I am apprised of their intentions, it would be premature of me to interfere in the matter.  It is a fact I believe that the party now occupying Langley Mills are not very popular & are regarded as Monopolists in the Mining district, from which cause they have less employment in Smelting than anticipated.  The Mills therefore not being fully employed, it would doubtless be an advantage to the district if some part of them was let to any one who would keep them at work, & in such case, there could be no objection, I imagine, to furnish such party with Coals at the prescribed prices, but not at lower, as it makes no difference whether the Ore Smelted passes under the name of one party or of another.  The Lessees of Stublick Colliery are bound by their Lease to supply Mr Beaumont with 416 Fothers of Reducing Coal at 8s/- Per Fother and 2000 Fothers of Common Coal at 4s/- but this I believe was granted as a set off, for his giving up a Lease of Low Stublick, & could have nothing to do with such a transaction as is now contemplated.  And should he become a tenant of any part of Langley Mills, I do not think that the Colliery Lessees would be entitled to demand a higher price, or authorised in taking a lower one for Coals supplied to the Mills on his account, than that at which they are furnished to the present Lessees, whose representative he would in fact become.  I declined giving any opinion on the subject to the Colliery Lessees until I should learn what arrangement about the Mills it was intended to make when I might probably think it necessary to ask Mr Fenwicks opinion, by whom the Leases were drawn, as to the right which the party had to sublet, & other matters connected with this subject, that I might be prepared to lay them before the Board.