Journal entry – John Grey – 25 Sep 1833

Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th 



Major Johnson’s Arbitration

Passed at Millfield Hill with my family, most of whom I had not even seen for nearly three months.  Saw Major Johnson respecting the Arbitration.  He seemed inclined still to adhere to his opinion that certain charges included in the Arbitration come under the head of damages always born by Lessors, & were not occasioned by his immediate occupation and operations.  I urged upon him the folly & impolicy of protracting the settlement of such a tedious affair by introducing into it points which the Arbitrators could not possibly take upon them to decide, and showed him an extract from a letter I had received from Mr Hooper upon the subject, containing remarks which I thought must satisfy him of the prudence of bringing the Affair to the earliest possible conclusion.   Mr Hoopers statement was to the effect, that if Mr Johnson expected more than strict justice from the Hospital, he would be disappointed, but that if on the Account it should be proved that he was called upon to pay the least sum that was not customarily paid by Lessees of Collieries on the Tyne & Wear, it would be found that the Hospital was equally ready to do justice, as to require it.  With this he expressed himself satisfied, & promised to endeavour to get the Arbitration closed  on Saturday when I should meet him at Berwick.  



Coals delivered to Tenants

He complained also that Mr Fenwick, the Viewer, had not furnished him at the price at which me was to charge the Coals used for burning Lime by the Scremerston Tenants.  When at Berwick in the Spring, Mr Fenwick had made the necessary memoranda for calculating the cost of working the Coals,  at which cost they are to be delivered to the Tenants, but he has never sent his decision respecting it to Mr Johnson, on which account he states that he is kept out of a considerable payment due to him by Mr Thomson.  I undertook to write to Mr Fenwick, which I did accordingly.