Letter – Edward Blackett to James Mewburn – 8 Dec 1709

James                        								Dec  8   1709



      I perceive by yrs of the 3rd that you have lett <Lysdon> Farm, Am glad you have gott so Substantiall & managing a tenant, tho’ the farm is lett much short of what old Tho. Hindmarsh paid for it, however patience must be had, I likewise perceive that you have lett <Sheprey’s> Farm, for 5s a year more but I look upon’t to be only forty shillings when you lye out yearly 3s for Stubbing of Whins, you do not write me how many years you Judge it will be before the Whin be Stubb’d, however gett the foul Draughts of both the Leases drawn and inclose them to me to peruse   I have perus’d the Tenants proposalls att Whitridge, and am Sure if you had offer’d them a long lease when you gave them liberty to plow they would willingly have accepted of it, I do believe the Meadow ground may be ill enough, and yr best way will be to oblige them by an Article in the Lease to lay the Meadow Ground three years before their Lease be out upon a <hard> corn crop, so you may make them a Lease for 9 or 11 years but not to leave his Farm at Every three Years , if he do so he’ll get three Crops of the Meadow Ground & then leave it, which you must take particular care of in the lease.  So inclose me Copies of them all and Shall peruse them, you know I have kept the Management of Seat Delaval Solely to yr Selfe so be sure you take as much care in the Improvement of it as if twere yr own, you never writ me what Jno. and Mr Ord said to you when you gave them the Schedules of the Writings which I have in my Custody that concern Seat Lordship, Acqt me if my Daughter Maria Recd a Lettr by the same post yrs came to hand, I hope Mr Stephenson will place no more in his Acct  for the wine than wholesalers paid, if he do Acqt both Mr Ridley and Mr Wilkinson with it that I hope they’ll lett me pay no more than the  <… …nds> in Newcastle do, for I’m in hope my Pay is as good.  Always writ a line per Saturday nights post to  yr Assured friend