Journal entry – John Grey – 21 Mar 1834

Friday 21st March



Visited the Farms at Newlands where there is some draining going on, where some applications had been made for repairs & where I had applications to make for Arrears.  Found that our old Tenant Soppit whose alacrity & wonderful possession of faculties at the age of 93 I had often admired, had died lately, and is wife nearly as old as himself, within ten days afterwards. They had just been 60 years married!  Examined the Mill at Newlands which had lately been under repair & has been put by Murray into excellent order.  The Machinery works well & smoothly, & he has managed cleverly to save the expense of a new upright Shaft by using the part which was of sufficient strength & making up the necessary length by fixing in a cast Iron Spindle at the top.  From Newlands I rode across the country to Lambton to see Mr Morton, Lord Durhams head Agent, I consult him about the choice of a Colliery Viewer.  Mr Fenwick is becoming old and slow and has besides too many large concerns to look after, to make ours an object of attention. I have written to him twice since sending him Mr Thomsons Memorial respecting the Lime Coal at Scremerston, as directed by the Board, & though I have ascertained that he is at home, having obtained no answer.  I explained to Mr Morton that we did not want a high & expensive man as a Viewer, but one who would come as occasion required to inspect the Collieries, wch were in hand & but of small extent, charging moderately for his journies.  He recommended a Mr Foster of Haswell as a very judicious & respectable man, one who is not in the employment of any of the very large Collieries and would be likely to give due attention on moderate terms.