Letter – Arthur Mowbray to Shute Barrington – 30 Jan 1800

      Durham 30th Jany 1800

My Lord,

      I herewith enclose your Lordship a copy of the resolutions entered into at Stanhope on the 27th Instant, and a Copy of Mr Tweddells Letter to me, which I did not receive until late last night, on my return Home. The Letter Mr Tweddell Mentions (wrote by him to Dixon) was produced and read at the Meeting, very much against a division and levelled, in a great degree at Scruton. I waved it as much as I could and brought Dixon his agent to think a division would be of real Use. He wrote Mr Tweddell the next morning and sent him a copy of the resolutions. Altho’ my Letter is rather to the point I have full Hopes of getting Mr Tweddell round. It is presumed if your lordship think proper to write him, it will have a great effect, as the Stand he is making is entirely by being out of Temper with Scruton. I ought to observe that the rules of the House as to notice has been complied with. The next meeting is to be held at Stanhope on Monday the 10 Feby to consider as to the dividing of Bollihope and Stanhope Commons, and on Tuesday the 11th at Chapel as to amending the Act passed last year for dividing the Stinted Pasture etc.

      Bollihope is said to contain about 5000 acres, Stanhope about 6000. These are Commons out of which your Lordship will receive an allotment; and by the resolutions entered into the last meeting it is probable about 4000 acres may be divided and 10,000 stinted. Out of the first I conceive your Lordship should have 1/16 and I think out of the latter (or stinted part) 1/24 as it will not at present be brought into cultivation; which 1/16 and 1/24th it is supposed may be worth about £200 per ann[um]. Scruton with his usual Flippery had left out Middle Hope a stinted pasture not included in the last Bill about 4000 acres which will be included in the advertisem[en]t for the next meeting, so that if we succeed the new Bill will divide about 16,000 acres. I was, and am hurt in the Way the last Bill was closed. The amendments I propose are, that a clause for selling the Waste on the Chapel Green for Building, and other small Wastes should be sold, which it is thought may amount to £500, and why it was struck out of the last Bill no-one knows. Scruton says Lord Walsingham struck it out. This £500 with the apportionment your Lordship may please to allow out of the allotm[en]t would be of real service to endow a school in the West end of Weardale for the labouring poor, as talked at Durham. The Inhabitants would I think agree to it: I do not think they would to the Building of Chapels and to have the Clause for the Enfranchisement which I think would benefit the See and please the Inhabitants much and that the different Hopes (as they are called) or districts be divided in the same Way as is proposed for Stanhope viz That certain part be sold for planting to defray the Expence. That the Improveable part of the remainder be allotted and the residue stinted with a power for the majority of the proprietors to divide such stinted part, when they think proper, after the first allotments have been improved. 

      This would materially lessen the first expence. Allot as much as they can within a reasonable Time improve, and prevent (by the Sale of a part) the poor creatures who have their Estates mortgaged to the Height, selling them for what they can get, as probably no one will lend them more money, in their present state and it is truly dreadful to hear the complaints of several of those people. Scruton whipped in some of the districts where I believe no one consented and seems not to consider themselves included in the Bill. I at the last meeting stated all the points I have here named to your Lordship, and I have met with full countenance. You Lordship will please to write me your Sentiments. I hope by a little Spirit, and perseverance, to bring all right which I will attend to from the first to the last.  A letter from Col Beaumont to the agent in Weardale, or to me, would be of great use, altho’ he has little Interest in Bollihope or Stanhope. His agent was here last Saturday. I allowed him to purchase his Land Tax. I write this hastily. I am going to Newcastle this morning to contract with Atkinson. I found a letter last night from Mr. Williamson saying he will be here tonight to attend the Meeting as to the Commons tomorrow and desiring the Solicitors and I will meet him this Evening which we will do. I have wrote to Sir Thomas Liddell.

      I am, My Lord, Your Lordships very much obliged & most obedient hble s[ervan]t

      Arthur Mowbray



The Hon[ora]ble & Right Revd The Lord Bishop of Durham