Letter – Henry Richmond to Richard Ellis – 28 May 1763

To Mr Richard Ellis at                                                        Newcastle 28th May 1763

Hexham



Sir/ I sho[ul]d be glad if you wo[ul]d, as soon as it is convenient to you, make up your Rental, let the arrears stand as they will. As to Robt Allgood’s proposal to take low stubblock coll[ier]y; Before I lay it before Sir Walter, I desire to know what terms you wo[ul]d advise Sir Wr to let her upon whether, if you expect she will be a valuable Colliery after the winning he talks of, it will not be the surest way to reserve so much p[er] fother, suppose 2 or 3d for what coals he shall get; allowing him a year or two to win her rent free, paying only for the coals as above: & after that yr or two to pay such certain rent as you shall judge proper; which may be increased after 3 years: still letting him have coals for his certain rent, that is, so many fo[the]rs as there 2 or 3 pences in the said certain Rent & if he gets more than is equal to the said Rent, then to pay an additional Rent of so much for each Fother as aforesaid. Upon some such footing as this the Coll[ie]ry might be let for a term of 21 yrs wth sufficient advantage to a Tenant & without any disadvantage to a Landlord. As you are best judge of the nature of the seam & value of the coll[ie]ry I must beg your further Sentements of this matter before I trouble Sir Walter with it; in order to save writing backward & forwards unnecessarily ab[ou]t it. I am etc HR