Journal entry – John Grey – 20 Dec 1833

Friday 20th December 1833



Heard from Mr Thomson of Scremerston stating that in these times, he could not hold on his farm and wishing to have a meeting with me respecting it.  Wrote in reply, that his taking a journey to see me wd avail him nothing.  That the Commissioners had uniformly, since my coming here, declined reducing rents when applied for, except upon a relinquishment of the Lease.  That it was too late of taking the resignation of such an extensive farm as his for this season, and advised him to hold on to see what another year might produce, when if he determined upon it, he must make his application in due time.   Went to Hexham to attend the meeting of the Alston road Trust, to which I communicated the answer of the Board to their late application.   This being the day appointed for the election of the new Surveyor & Treasurer, the meeting proceeded to examine the testimonials in favor of the respective candidates.  There were no fewer that 40 applicants for the former office, most of whom were dismissed at once, as ineligible, and after much investigation & discussion, a young man from Scotland called Rome was unanimously elected.  Besides excellent public testimonials, he brought to me a strong private recommendation from a most respectable man & eminent Engineer in Edinburgh with whom I have been long acquainted.  Mr Stephenson who executed the difficult work of the Bell Rock Light House & many other distinguished public works.  Mr Rome had been employed by him in erecting the new Bridge at Annan & had executed under him a new line of road through the difficult County of Argyle, both of which must be favorable to his management of roads in a mountainous district like that of Alston, connected as that road is with so many bridges over mountain torrents.  A Mr Walton of Alston was elected Treasurer, upon which election there was considerable difference of opinion.  I thought him too advanced in life to continue long to take much trouble, & wished rather to have obtained the appointment of a Son of Mr Dickinson the Moor Master, who lives on the spot.  An active canvass however among the Trustees previously, had secured a small majority for Mr Walton, who is, I believe a most respectable man.  I hope now, to see the affairs of the Trust conducted with regularity & an attention to economy in every department.   I have had some conversatIon with Mr Rome, who concurs readily in some suggestions I made respecting the mode of providing & applying the Materials & with whom I shall have further conferences before he engages in his office in February.  The business of this meeting occupied nearly the whole day.