Journal Entry – William Hooper – 22 Apr 1833

Monday April 22nd 1833



Having appointed this day for paying off the Workmen at Langley Mills, I rode up there and performed this no very agreeable duty – the refuse, Chimney fume etc. the Lessees have engaged to take, and to pay the Hospital according to the actual produce.  A small cake of Silver, the last, 553½ ounces, I had sent down to me, to forward to Newcastle for sale there.  Mr Hunt is daily engaged in visiting the farms in the adjoining Districts, inspecting the Draining etc. which is now in progress.



I was much disappointed in being obliged to leave Belford on Wednesday last, without having received from Mr Pattison the promised papers relative to the Pier Railway, and before I did leave, I wrote to him very strongly on the subject, and stating that as I could not leave Northumberland without the settlement of this matter, I trusted he would spare me the necessity of again visiting Berwick for the purpose – I have today, Mr Pattison’s reply, apologising for the delay, and promising that I shall have the whole of the papers in a very short time.



Mr Ruddock the Clerk to the Hexham Road Trustees, has sent me the Minutes of a meeting on the 16th, by which it appears that the Surveyors report the number of roods of fence to be 1544, whereas my claim was for 1600, and stating that no return had been received from the party appointed to value the damage to be allowed the tenants, and the subject is consequently deferred to the next meeting on the 21st of May; and Mr Ruddock in sending this minute says he is directed to inform me that the Trustees had been under the necessity of letting the tolls at a reduction of £250 a year, and to ask if the Hospital would take security on the Tolls for the amount due, the interest to be regularly paid.



The Hospital in this transaction is placed as one who has had his pockets picked, and when he discovers the offender and seeks restitution, is first cooly told to surrender the debt, and secondly to lend the money for ever – it is clear enough that Mr Ruddock is aiming at delay to get rid of me, and as he hopes the claim altogether, and my own opinion is, that it would be only just to the Hospital to arrest the Treasurer for the amount we can legally claim, and thus force a settlement.  I submit the papers for the Board’s instructions, referring to my letter to Mr Ruddock of the 8th of March, of which the Board has a copy, and observing that the Minute of the 16th <…> admits their liability to 1544 roods of fences, and the paper dated 15th of March 1831, and signed by Six Trustees, admits the liability to the damages.