Journal entry – John Grey – 5 Dec 1833

Thursday 5th December



Was engaged nearly all the day in examining the farm of Chesterhill, arranging with Mr Thomson his away going Crop, in which I had no difficulty as he wished for no advantage, & preparing the terms for the new letting to leave with his Farm Stewart [sic], as he is kind enough to allow him to show the farm to those who may come to propose for it. I consider this farm worth about £100 a year more than Glororum & in justice to Mr Thomson, must say that I never saw a farm left in better condition, which circumstance, will I doubt not, have a great effect on the offers that will be made for it.  Had Mr Thomson known soon enough of the change in the mode of letting , we should likely have retained him as a tenant, but apprehending public opposition & having been invited by Sir Thos Brisbane to take an excellent farm in Roxburghshire, he cannot be blamed for providing for himself.  I rode over to Wooler in the evening, having appointed a meeting there with Mr Johnson who was authorised to treat for Glororum by the other Trustees.  I found his ultimatum to be £700.  I stated that I had made my calculations with great care & without the slightest wish to stretch the point beyond a fair living rent.  That I should stake my judgement upon the farm letting for that sum, or even more, but that if the Commissioners chose, in consideration of the losses which must have been incurred to a great extent, to fix the rent at £700, I could have no objections, but for that I had no authority.  There are several acres which will be found in the Plan, in a field called Long Barracks where the soil is mixed with rock, & only useful when the field is in pasture.  It occurred to me that those Acres would be best employed in planting, upon an estate where we have not a tree or any kind of materials for Gates or railing, but foreign wood.  And I suggested that if the Comms. should think of planting this & some other spots, they should be given up, without further deduction upon the rent being fixed at £700, but if there should be no intention of planting, then the rent should be £720.  Mr Johnson requested a copy of the terms of management, which I had drawn up, which I gave him, along with my valuation, & requested time to consult the other Trustees.  I fixed to meet him on Monday on my return to Corbridge.  Rode to Milfield Hill at ten o’clock at night.