Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Oct 1833

Friday 18th October



Scremerston Town Farm

Drove in the morning 15 miles to Scremerston & walked over the extensive & well cultivated farm of Mr Thomson which is at once the largest and the best managed of any belonging to the Hospital.  Mr Thomson unluckily was not at home but my Son found the Steward and obtained from him the state of the tillage.



Inland Pasture Farm

We then went over to Mr Hogarths farm, though not quite so highly farmed as the other is yet in a regular course of husbandry & in very credible condition.  Mr Hogarth directed my attention to a Quarry formerly wrought in one of his fields, which being perpendicular and having no fence around it, is the cause of accidents to the Cattle.  He wished the Wall which had once been ordered but never built, to be made.  The Quarry seems to occupy about an acre, & the rubbish that had been taken out nearly as much more, I therefore suggested the possibility of this being replaced & the brink of the Quarry sloped so as to restore the Land, & if this would be effected at even double the expense of the Wall, it would be well worth while.  On speaking of it to Major Johnson he seemed to think it likely to be done at no great expense, by laying down some Tram plates to wheel upon & letting it at the vacant season to the Salmon Fishers, & promised to let me know what they would undertake it for.  I next waited upon Mr Pringle & remarked that in taking the state of his tillage my Son had informed me that he had been growing two corn crops in succession, contrary to his covenant.  He admitted the fact but said it had not in former times been found fault with, & that it was all little enough in such times.  I told him it would not mend the times or his prospects to take advantage of the Land & that I at least could not overlook such breach of covenants.  His Farm however, generally speaking, is not in bad condition.   On saying that I should hope to see him at Belford on Tuesday to settle his Rent & Arrears, he professed his ignorance of that being the Rent day.  I told him that fearing he might not see the Advertizement in the Newspaper, I had myself written to apprize him of it, & being only two miles from the Post Town it was improbable that he should not have got the letter.  He then said he could pay no Rent till he received the amount of the Award from Major Johnson in the month of November and that he could not be at Belford. [marginal note: ‘This man deserves no further favours. He is one of the most unfair dealing <sort of> our tenant, especially considering <what has> been done for him’]. I reminded him that he had paid no rent at all in the Spring, not even for the Fishing which had no connexion with the award, & advised him not to practise too much upon the lenity that had been shown him.  He would not undertake however to pay any money on tuesday, but talked of Wood he had long wanted for Gates, and for the repair of the Scaffolding round the Tower of his wind Machine, without which the sails cannot be come at when wanting repair.  I examined this & found it to be in a dangerous state, but said I must decline doing anything of the sort while he allowed his arrear to stand against him.