Journal Entry – William Hooper – 5 Mar 1833

Tuesday 5th March 1833



Mr Fenwick having at length sent a person to distrain upon Elrington East Farm, possession was taken but nearly all the stock had been removed, and I fear we shall suffer heavy loss, but every day would make it worse, and it is essential to secure what we can, and get the farm out of such hands – the disgraceful conduct of Lambert the Bailiff in this affair, will render it imperative in me to submit to the Board to visit it by making no allowance on discharge to the Bailiff in this District – it may seem hard to visit Mr Coats for the sins of his Grandson, but it must be remembered that he is wholly responsible for his acts, and has received the salary several years to compensate for that responsibility; and this transaction is neither more or less than a family compact to rob the Hospital.



Rode to Langley Mills, and paid each Workman his wages for Smelting etc. during the past month, and took the occasion to inform them that we should have no occasion for their services after the presen parcels of ore were completed.



The Thorburns, Tenants of Gairshield and Bagraw, having brought me the order to receive the money due to them for Lead Carriage, and signed an undertaking to pay £150 by May, I gave them a release for their cattle, they paying the expenses confined to a few shillings only.



I signed the order to distrain on Westwood which Mr Fenwick sent me – we shall certainly have to proceed to sale, and get a surrender of that farm also, as the only chance of getting future rent, as well as for the recovery of the past.  Mr Peacock to whom I had written respecting Allerwash Town Farm, came to me, in consequence of my letter expressing his willingness to take the farm for his eldest son, if he can get it on terms that will at all pay, and he left me to examine it, and then to make a proposal – The respectability of this person will strongly tempt me to recommend his offer, if at all adequate.



Mr Hunt the Candidate for the Bailiff’s situation came to me by appointment, and after fully explaining to him what would be required and expected, with the amount of Salary etc., and closely questioning him on various points, I was sufficiently satisfied to be induced to take him upon trial, and I arranged for him to join me here on the 20th Inst., which is the earliest day he could conveniently do so.



Mr Lee informed me that Mr Wilson and his Partners would be ready to meet me tomorrow, Wednesday, morning to discuss the settlement of terms for the Ores etc. – From the tenor of Mr Taylor’s report, and the unconditional authority of the Admiralty letter, I shall be puzzled if they refuse to accede to my amendments, for I am most decidedly of opinion that unless they do so, Mr Lownds’s is the better offer, and Mr Taylor’s reasoning is in many respects upon wrong premises, especially as regards the Machinery which Mr Lownds contemplated adding for the manufacture of Red & White Lead.