Letter – Arthur Mowbray to Shute Barrington – 6 Apr 1799

      Durham 6 April 1799

My Lord

      It probably may be the most proper to sell part of the Reversion of the Leasehold for Years and part for Lives, to Redeem the Land Tax, but where or to what account I cannot yet advise your Lordship, my reason for offering those Comparative modes of Calculation was to have something fixed to form an Equitable Value on both that the matter might undergo a Consideration so as to act upon the most approved principle. The Landtax Letters come slowly in, I propose to Insert an advertisement to hasten the Lessees, that something decisive may be fixed on from the several applications, and Conversations with your Lordships lessees, I conclude I can sell at a full market price the Reversion of a Competent part of your Lordships Estate to Redeem the Landtax, without trouble, and in a short time. 

      I observe what your Lordship says as to Mr Scarth, and am very much obliged by the Shape your Lordship is pleased to place the application in. I am at a loss to conceive on what ground Mr Burdon wishes Scarth to act, whether to be employed in the valuing, and selling, the Reversion or to see that the Lessees do what is right. I sho[ul]d think any Interference in the appointment by the Lords of the Treasury would Indicate a suspicion that the Lessees were not Just or People of Integrity, for who are so much Interested, or such proper Guardians so they must be, and who from their Local Situation must know the best in whom to place the execution of the Trust. Its a matter for your Lordships serious consideration how far Mr Scarth is a proper person if one is wanted, to act in any of the situations.

      Mr Wailes has been with me today and shewn me the D[ra]ft of the Bill for dividing <Brayton> Common, wherein the parties appear to have agreed by a Compensation, or the line of Boundary heretofore in Dispute, and wherein they propose to give your Lordship one sixteenth of the Improved Value per An[num]. Your Lordship will be further interested in the Corn Tithes in Lease to Warcup Consett Esq. those seem the outline of that part of the Bill that concern your Lordship. I really should suppose it may be well for the See to acceded to the line of Boundary so chalked out, to the 16[th] and to the Reservation of the Tithes but Mr Wailes tells me that Mr Consett has proposed a Mr <Calarley> Richmond as the Sole Commissioner, and that without the acquiescence of the Proprietors. I have told Mr Waltes that I presumed your Lordship w[oul]d not consent to a Division when the property was so Intermixed, & when as far as the extent goes, the See is so much Interested, without knowing the person proposed or Naming a Commissioner. Your Lordship will be pleased to write me in answer at your first convenience, as they are anxious to go to parliament.

Scruton has returned from Weardale and tells me he has obtained signatures plenty. Mr Castle has asked me for & I have paid him £200 on your Lordships account.

      I am My Lords humble servant

      Arthur Mowbray