Journal entry – John Grey – 28 Dec 1833

Saturday 28th December



Wrote to Mr Dickinson of Spency Croft, directing him as to the number & kinds of trees to be got at the nursery at Alston, for planting the piece of ground as ordered by the Board - and also as to the price he should give for pitting and planting the same.  I have obtained the prices of young trees & thorns from several nurseries & find them very much alike.   The only thing necessary is to see that they are good and suitable.



Rode to the Quarries  worked for the purposes of the rail-way and Saw Mill, to see that they are conducted so as to secure the Hospital against present damage or future expense, in case of having to go to them again.  Saw the wood which is being sawn into flooring deals in the plantation on the Devils Water, which is remarkably good.  Visited the Workmen at the Embankment in Widehaugh, the highest & most expensive part of which is now past, and the remainder will get on more expeditiously- afterwards went to look into Mr Leadbitters cause of complaint for want of stable room, for which there is some reason.  He has one good Stable for four horses, the others are pieces in parts of the building taken off the Hovels which the Cattle ought to have, making it inconvenient for the Cattle as well as the Horses.  Adjoining the good Stable is a Cow House which could be dispensed with and by taking down the Gable & extending the Stable, all the horses might be had in one range & under the same roof at little cost.  This I must do, if the days were longer.  At present, I do as little by day labor as possible.  In making up the Rental Book of this year, I am at a loss respecting several farms in Langley and elsewhere, the rents of which, for the present year, Mr Hooper gave the Tenants to expect, should be at the same rate as they might let for in the next.  But on this head I have received no instructions from the Board.  I shall send a list of such Farms herewith.  Mr Storey, Bailiff at Wark, has not yet been paid his gratuity because I intended to settle with him, when he should have got in certain Arrears due there at May Day last.  He has done so in some instances, but his account is not yet closed. In the printed regulations respecting the pensions & gratuities as laid before Parliament, it is stated that he is to receive nine months Salary as a gratuity from the 1st April.  But Mr Weatherly & others got 12 months, & Mr Storey’s services, though Mr Hunt came sooner, were continued till the 12th May, in the expectation of the Estate being transferred at that time, but from the delay that has occurred about the Title, Mr Storey has never been settled with.  What I wish to be informed of is, whether Mr Storeys Salary should not be paid till May day last, & then what gratuity is to be granted to him. 



I have now a Letter from Mr Stephens informing me that the Ore weighed in the last Quarter is 4667 Bings & 6 Cwts and the Duty Ore 789 Bings 1 1/4 Cwt.



Mr Bell late Bailiff on the Meldon District, has not been paid either, because I believe of disputes as to breach of Covenants, by which the Hospital sustained a Loss, between the entering & way-going tenants.  I wish to have the Boards direction on this also, whether the amount of such loss is to be kept off Mr Bell’s pension in the first place & the payments to him to commence after that is satisfied.