Letter – Benjamin Johnson to Thomas Wentworth Beaumont – 16 Mar 1822

Mr Beaumont		(undated)

… I was not made acquainted with Roddams having dug out the fox until the following day in the morning ... I went down immediately and reprimanded him for so doing and should have had him turned down but he was then so weak from being baited by a number of terriers that he was more dead than alive.  Mr John Bacon of Styford I understand from Roddam had passed in the forenoon of that day and was asked if he thought the fox I lost be sent to the director of the Northumberland Hunt.  He said they would not run a fox that had been bagged and Roddam might do what he pleased with him; but was not to turn him down as there were too many already in the woods at Styford.  He was given to Mr Walker's son at Bearl and by him turned down before Mr Humble's hounds but was so weak that he never got out of the first field.  I certainly never had allowed him to have gone to Mr Walker had I known he was to have been hunted (particularly by Mr Humble) … I have not been able to get anything out of Mr Forster. I proposed to him some time ago to give a joint note with some responsible person ... I therefore much wish that you would honor us with your presence at Easter to see what has been done in the farm in particular and to ride through your Estate.  Your tenants at Welton Fenwick and elsewhere who have hitherto made few complaints now say that they cannot go on with their improvements in drainage with the poor prospect of the value of produce and I should be sorry to see this most important improvement to your property relaxed ... It is an unpleasant task to have to make but consider it a duty I to yourself in so important a trust confided to me on your part as the care responsible must be of such extensive property and at the same time due to those who are labouring under such <....> depressed markets.