Letter – Edward Chandler to Walter Blackett – 5 Jun 1732

June 5 1732



Sr

      An Act of Parliament that empowers the Bp of D[urham] to lease the lead mines at Stanhop & there is this clause, “yielding & paying the lot oar or 9th pt of the said lead ore gotten in the said mines, from time to time as the same shall accrue & be gotten, clean & well washed, without deduction of any manner of charges – at the Feasts of Pentecost, Lamas, St Martins in winter & Candlemas Day – And if it shall happen that the lot – or any part thereof to be behind and unpaid, by the Space of 40 days, after any of the said feasts on wch the same ought to be paid in manner as aforesaid, that then the s[ai]d Lassee his Exec[utor]s Adm[inistrators] & Assig[nees] shall forfeit & pay to the s[ai]d Bp of D[urham] for the time being the sum of 40sh <noe> pence for every day if these s[ai]d  rents shall be so behind. And for default of such payment it shall & may be lawful to enter & distrain for the same.  So often during the continuance of this lease as the said lessee his heirs or Assigns shall neglect or refuse to pay the s[ai]d Lot oar – referred as aforesaid.”

      upon this clause, the person that is treating for the managemt of my 9th lot, observes that the weighing of the oar, (when the division of the 9th part can only be made) is to be quarterly and that he is to have notice of the same some days before that he who is <employed> by the B[ishop of] D[urham] may attend successively at the several workings [struck out: pit]. he hopes he may have the liberty to inspect the Agents books every quarter, & if need be to ride the shafts. W[he]n the method of taking the lot is once settled, wch I am willing to believe you’l not make unsafe to me, I shall then be <prepared> to hear your proposals for the oar so separated in case you are <incline> as you seem to be to take it yourself. I desire you to order your servant to send me the names of all the mines  held by virtue of the Lease & to let me know how far you consent to these p[ar]ticulars which my manager thinks he hath a right to by the intention of the Act. I am Sir your obedient humble servant ED



Q[uestions] for council

(1) Hath not the B[isho]p a right to the 9th of all the old heaps <so washt>

(2) is not the 9th lot, a 9th of the whole, i.[e.] a 9th of the whole and one 9th of a tenth & whether this is to be taken out of the Lessee’s 8 p[ar]ts or out of the Rector’s

(3) W[ha]t notice is to be given to the B[isho]p’s Agents?



[on reverse, on right, summary:]

Lot Oar

Bp Chandler’s Letter to Mr Blackett (as it’s supposed) 5th June 1732

About a Division of his 1/9 Part

[On reverse, on left  in a different hand, presumably a misplaced annotation:]

Reasons for dispensing with Dr Toppin