Letter – Arthur Mowbray to Shute Barrington – 19 Nov 1798

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We think the Bishop of durham is not entitled to any Allotment as Lord of the Manor upon a division of the Stinted Pastures by Act of Parliament in Respect of any Interest in the Soil of those pastures, except as he appears to be entitled to the Mines of Lead under the stints of pastures as well as under the Copy hold and Customary freehold Lands and Commons. If it shall be proposed to extinguish his Rights to the Lead mines under the Stinted pastures the Bishop will be entitled to a Compensation for the same.

      John Mitford

      J Mansfield

Lincs Inn: 9 Nov 1798





      Sherburn, 19th Novr. 1798

My, Lord,

      Above I send your Lordship a Copy of the opinion. I wish it had been more favourable. I have by the same post sent Mr. Bernard a Copy and informed him that Mr Scruton is <….ant> of the Draught of the Bill as he proposed to advertise a Meeting for the Reading to be held in a Fortnight, when Mr. Williamson will attend. I hope the Rector will listen to his Advice, and that the whole will be drawn to a fair point & fixed.

      The Landowners in this Country & in Scotland, where I have lately been are very backward in purchasing the Land Tax, partly on acct. of the price, and partly under an Idea that a new Bill will be formed on the Meeting of Parliament. The Tax on the Franklin demesne, and the Bishops Meadow is per Ann £1.7.3 Mr Castle had not on Saturday got an Acct. of the Tax on the Stockton Demesne. I presume Mr. Emm will have procured the Amount of the Tax on the Park &c &c at Bp. Auckland, and as I dare say Mr. Castle will soon be ready _ shall be glad to have your Lordships direction as to the purchasing.

      I saw Mr Buddle for the first Time since your Lordship left this Country on Wednesday last when he informed me that his Men had gone thro’ another Seam of Coal at Bedlington, which he was afraid would <…vert> the <Main Seam>, if so, he doubted it would not be so valuable as he expected _ he promised a Report in two or three days, which I will forward to your Lordship.

      I saw Mr. Taylor of Beamish the other Day, Sir Jno. Eden’s Agent, and he was pressing that I should attend with Buddle and decide upon the Boundary between Blackburn fell and Sir Jno’s Estate at Beamish; which your Lordship will recollect was spoke of. But lately it has occurred to me, that your Lordships, Sir Thos. Liddell’s and Sir Jno. Eden’s Interest are all intermixed, and not well known, and that it would be better for the Agents of the parties to meet and with the assistance of a Gentleman in the Law, to fix the Boundary or in Case of dispute to agree on an Order for an Opinion.  I imagine my Lord at such a Meeting something probably may be brought forward and agreed upon as to your Lordships working the Coalmines which without some such attempt to conciliate are likely to lay dormant. Buddle thinks well of the plan. I shall be glad to have your Lordships Sentiments.

      I am, My Lord Your Lordships very much obld. & most obdt. hble. Servt.

      Arthur Mowbray



The Honble. and Right Revd.The Lord Bishop of Durham