Letter – Diana Beaumont to Mark Skelton – 11 Jul 1793

Sir – 

If you think Mr. Stephenson is likely to suit, I should imagine it would be necessary to give Mr. <Hodshon> & the Schoolmaster Notice immediately that they are to give up this Duty at Xmas next, we should expect Mr. Stephenson w[oul]d read Prayers & Preach in the Morn[in]g. & in the Afternoon read Prayers only, & when you give the notices be so good as Say we wish to have Duty done twice a Day w[hic]h is the reason we make the change, we shall allow 40£ <per Ann:> for the Duty & 20 for the School & for w[hic]h we shall send 12 Poor Children, & change them as we think proper Yearly or half Yearly, he must engage a Woman to teach the Girls plain Work & what is necessary in those Schools & he must provide a Clerk. I will thank you to explain these things to Mr. Stephenson that there be no mistakes; in regard to the Boarders, it is optional in the Parents whether they send their Children or not, therefore I should imagine it w[oul]d be necessary for Mr. Stephenson to make application to the Parents, & if we find the School answers we may afterwards think of adding Bedrooms by raising the Wings – 

Mr. <S> will not Dine with the Servants on a Sunday as formerly but must Dine at his own House: I am perfectly satisfied in regard to Louisa’s Chancery Business, I have done my Duty, w[hic]h is <generally> approved, Mr. James Lee wrote to Mr. Bt. w[hic]h he has answered I cannot <convince> Mrs. W. Lee Mr.Bt. had nothing to do with it. I was the person – I am Dr. Sir, Yours &c

D. B-