Letter – Diana Beaumont to Mark Skelton – 24 Jul 1793

								Hexham Abbey  July 24th 1793

Dear Sir,

      I enclose you a Letter Mr. Beaumont recd. the Day before Yesterday from Tweedale, & which I answered in strong terms; the part respecting the Altering of the Back Staircase we do not clearly comprehend. I have told him we must not have any alterations made without our being first Acquainted with the intended plan; when we left Bretton we particularly order[e]d the bottom of the Back Stairs to be closed up & Boarded; by his description we conclude it is done with Stone, as he says the Hall Floor calls for a new one of the same Derby Stone. We do not intend having anything done at the Hall until the new Dining Room & Library are finished, for the Workmen will always, if they are allowed, begin New Work before the Old is rendered complete & when we do new Floor the Hall, it will be with Boards, w[hic]h was the reason we intended to have had the bottom of the Staircase Boarded also, but if it is already done with Stone, it will only add to the expense to have it now changed. If it is finished by this time, they will have been more expeditious than usual; if you have time I will be much obliged to you if you will have the goodness to go to Bretton & give me your opinion of what is done, & doing, if Tweedale means the flight of Stairs that landed in the Cellar is changed to the other side, and the Door at it is a trap Door (w[hic]h he omitted to Name as such), I think the change will be for the better as it leaves the Square Place B quite clear, but even then he ought to have taken the trouble of informing Mr. Bt. previous to his beginning it, or if the Stairs in the Cellar were taken away I see no reason why they were put up on the other side, for so seldom as the Trap Door was raised a Ladder might have served to carry the Coals when required thro’ the Trap Door to the Upper part of the House; - We have had much trouble about the Servants Liverys & shall be I fear unpleasantly situated at the Newcastle Assizes which begin on Saturday the 29th, for we must be out of Mourning, & all our Servants in Mourning if their Clothes don’t arrive in time. Mr. Beaumont wrote to Tweedale Yesterday to hasten Drake. I fear Tweedale don’t <exert> himself; -

      I hope Mr. Stephenson will give his Vicar suff[icien]t Notice to provide himself with another Curate – We are quite impatient for your coming, indeed you are much wanted. I hope it will be soon after the Assizes. We shall return here on the 2nd or 3rd of July & go to Allenheads on the 11th to be ready for Mr.  Beaut. to destroy all the Game. He is so busy playing with his Son, he desired I would write to you; you will find the Child much improved he is perfectly well. General Grant & his Aid de Camps have been with us since Monday Inhabitants of the Old Abbey. Mr. Phipps came to us last Saturday & leaves us tomorrow. He will be at Home on Saturday. We Dine every Day in the Ball Room , when it Rains it is rather inconvenient crossing the Court to go to Dinner. Mr. Beaumont has recd. two of the most Insolent Letters I ever read from Mr. James Lee, he is desperate & a complete Bully. More of this when we meet, he is a contemptable Fellow, & a disgrace to the Law – I hope you have settled everything with Mr. Wm. Lee, I understand he is as Violent as his Brother, but dare not stand forth. It is a g[rea]t loss to their Family £3000 per Ann, but they will have it in 18 Months when Miss W. is of Age.

      I am Dear Sir Your sincere Hble Servt

      Diana Beaumont