Journal entry – John Grey – 30 May 1834

Friday 30th May 1834



Went across the Tyne in the morning to examine the Buildings at Mark Close of which the Tenant complained & found them like too many others in bad condition.   It will be necessary to put in a new Window or two, as the Wood is so thoroughly rotten, that it will not admit of the Glass being removed, which is nearly all gone.  And to build a small toofall Shed, which will not cost much. Besides this other things are wanted, but they must remain until a new Lease is had.  At nine o’clock the Tenants began to come, having been desired to do so early, & with the exception of two or three who depend upon selling Sheep in the Autumn & have been accustomed to pay a whole years Rent at Mart[inma]s, their payments were quite as good as usual.  Having closed with them, I entered upon the examination of the Mining Accounts, comparing the Books of the respective companies with the Account of the Clerk of Deliveries, & found them in all instances to agree & to be kept in a clear & correct manner.  This examination & comparison with the Deliveries of Duty Ore to the Receiving Houses & the aggregate delivery to the Smelting Mills, form as complete a system of checks as can be desired.  



A little after four o’ clock, we closed our labors & sat down to a substantial dinner with a party of 60 or more consisting of the partners or Agents of Companies who had come to exhibit their accounts, the venerable Mr Jackson, Vicar of Alston, Messrs Bainbridge & two or three more of the most respectable & old established inhabitants of the district, all of whom, whether actually engaged in Mining speculations or not are equally alive to their interests.  They expressed general thankfulness for the reduction of the Duty Ore, & evinced the cheerfulness of people emerging from a state of adversity & depression to one of the brighter prospects & hapier days.  Though having no liking for large Companies, & least of all for the responsibility of presiding over them, I could not but feel much interested in the local information, habits & character elicited by this meeting, as well as a warm sympathy in their prospects & pursuits, & in the kind of filial regard with which they look to the protection & support of the Lords of the Manor.   It has been suggested, I believe, that this Meeting might be dispensed with, but it would be a pitty, I think, on account of the trifling expense of a Dinner, especially when as in this instance, the Rent day was combined with the other meeting, to break through the Hospitality of an old custom, which forms a rallying point for the speculators in the District, or to withdraw any of the kindness & encouragement which has been hitherto shown to those,  by the Application of whose Capital & labor the Hospital is deriving a considerable revenue.   I have before had occasion to mention with commendation the good moral conduct & superior intelligence of the lower orders in the Mining Districts & I am happy also to bear testimony to an equal extent in favor of their superiors, for after passing a pleasant & rational evening, the room was entirely vacated by nine o’ clock.