Journal entry – John Grey – 22 Oct 1833

Tuesday 22nd October 



Left home early & reached Belford between 10 & 11 o’clock.  The accompanying Sheet, being a copy of that upon which I recorded the transactions of the day, will show the sums received & the remains remaining.  Pringle did not appear at all.  He is to receive, as the award for damages, against the Colliery £319 which sum I suppose he intends to pay over for Rent, but the Arrear after that, including a half years Rent becoming due in November, will amount to a considerable sum, & he is so strange a man, that I should be inclined to hold him a little closer to his payments, especially as he shows a disposition to take advantage of his Land.  Mrs Thomson of Glororum, whose Husband was killed by his Horse falling, is in great distress about her farm.  She is falling into Arrear, & finds that without an abatement she must relinquish the remaining years of the term, much as she would like to hold on, on account of keeping her family together for three years more.  There is a peculiarity in the case favourable to any lenity which could be shown her, which is that hers is I believe the only farm upon that estate which is still held at the rent originally bargained for at the commencement of the present term.  [marginal note: ‘On this ground I think she may have favour shown.’] Mr Thompson’s application to be released from Chesterhill Farm is already before the Commissioners with my letter.



Mr Nairn has several applications to make respecting the flooring of some part of the Mill & Lofts which I saw to be in a decayed state, as well as other matters, which I have desired him to enumerate upon paper that I may report upon them from my own observation.  I gave directions respecting a small shed to be made in a Fold Yard at Outchester & some draining there, which my Son will occasionally ride over to examine, he having been with me in all my visits to that part of the Property  & the Scremerstons, where too I have instructed him to have a Poultry House built for Mr Thomson which had been singularly enough omitted in the building, & also the filling up of an old stable for a Cottage, the accommodation for work people being rather small.  I consider a person who manages his land so well and pays his rents so punctually deserving of every reasonable consideration.   I adjusted between him and Mr Hogarth a matter, though trifling, yet admitting of frequent disputes, about a way to the Sea beach, & by a small exchange of bad land on the beach, & my undertaking to build a few rods of Wall to secure them against trespass.  At any future letting this should be fixed beyond any dispute.  Major Johnson it will be seen paid £300 short of his rents, because he said, he expected that sum to have been paid by Mr Thomson to him on account of Coals delivered to Mr Thomson for burning Lime.  This had been a subject of long standing dispute, & was fully discussed by the parties in presence of Mr Hooper, Mr Fenwick, the Colliery viewer & myself at Berwick in April last.  It then appeared that in the price Mr Fenwick had fixed upon a part of the Coals, he had included rent, whereas they should have been given to the Tenants at the working cost exclusive of rent.  In consequence of which it was then decided that Mr Fenwick should revise his calculations, & that he should fix the prices definitively for both parties, for which purpose, he examined the Colliery Pay Bills and got all the prices paid for the different kinds of work.  I lately applied to Mr Fenwick to send in to Mr Thomson & Major Johnson his ultimate decision, hoping to have the matter settled, but Mr Thomson objects to it on the ground that Mr Fenwick has made a gradation of price, he being of the Opinion that he ought to have the best Coals as cheap as the worst because it costs as much to bring 1 Cwt of rubbish to bank as 1 Cwt of best Coal. The terms of Agreement with the Tenants are vague & leave the matter open to such disputes- but it is well known that the operations of winning a Colliery & the outlay for which remuneration is expected, rest upon the sale of good Coal and not of the inferior, and if the Tenants could have the best Coal, which Mr Fenwick charges at 5d at the same price as the worst which is charged at 3d, they would of course take only the best, which is sold for exportation, & leave the worst which is only fit for Lime burning, on the hands of the Lessee.  



[marginal note: ‘If the Commissrs are bound to decide let the case be feebly stated, but it has never contemplated that the Hospital Lessees had a right to transfer their differences to the Board for arbitration decisions.’]



This is now the subject of dispute & the ground of Major Johnson withholding his payment, because as he is bound to supply the Hospital tenants on certain conditions, he conceives the Hospital ought to secure him against loss or resistance of his claims.  The matter having been by general consent in April last, left to Mr Fenwick’s decision, either party must show very strong grounds now for setting that aside.  But thinking it likely that both parties may appeal to the Commissioners, I consider it right to put them in previous possession of the case, as far as I know & understand it. A firm expression of their opinion would, I doubt not, set the affair at rest.  In spite of such differences, we had a very social party at dinner, of 14 including Mr Weatherly, whom I had invited, that he might give me some explanations, the Bank Agent from Alnwick & my Son whose assistance I had taken.  Having made up my Account, paid over the Cash & discharged the Bill of £7.12.0, I set off at Six o’ clock, availing myself of the fine moon light to keep my promise of going to Howick if possible, rather than remaining at the Inn.