Letter – Isaac Hunter to John Erasmus Blackett – 29 Sep 1792

Dukesfield 29th Septr1792

Sir,

At the meeting yesterday the Committee and Surveyor produced a Plan and estimate of the intended road pointing out the improvements to be made and the expense of each, w[hi]ch amounted to the whole £6500 s d; it’s to go by Marley Mill / wth a branch to Pont Burn. Subscription was opened & £4000 subcribed [sic] (as on the other side): another meeting was fix’d on the 15th Octobr at Wolsingham at which the Committee are to acquaint the meeting with the additional subscriptions, being desired to apply by lre [letter] to those they thought wished well to the Road and the Subscribers then to settle the places for the Toll gates and other clauses of the Bill & choose their Solicitor w[hi]ch they may do by lre in proportion to the sum sub[scribe]d none under £50 to vote. Mr. Ormsby of Darlington & Mr Peter Hunter of Durham are the Candidates. there’s not a doubt but a Bill will be carried into Parliament and if Mr. Beaumont does not subscribe at the next meeting his Agents cannot wth propriety propose any clauses to be inserted in the intended Act. That a good road through that Country to Alston will undoubtedly be a great advantage to the Country in general & to Mr.Beaumont’s Works there by provisions &c coming cheaper. The Trustees ought to be limited in their power in the Act or the Road will be long of being finish’d for several of the gentlemen at the meeting seamed [sic] shy to have it any further then Chapel and as there’d not above 5 or 6 Gentlemen above Wolsingham qualified to be Commis[ione]rs the whole of the Business will be directed by the Commis[ione]rs East of Wolsingham so that the west part will have the disadvantage of Turnpike Gates without a Good Road; as has been the case of several Turnpikes if not prevented by the Act. Mr Peter Hunter beg you’ll name him as a Candidate for Solicitor to Mr Beaumont, hoping of his being acquainted wth his Brother the Cap[tai]n now in Friday that he’ll honour him with his Interest. I am

	Sir

		Your most H[um]ble servt

			Isaac Hunter



Subscribers

Alstone Moor    £550  Brought forwd      £3050

Mr Tweddell &c  £300  Mr Hall            £100	

Mr Curry        £300  B Fenwick for

Mr Wright       £200  Mr Scafe/Seafe     £100

Mr Clavering    £400  do Dr Huntley      £100

Revd Mr Dent    £100  do Revd Mr Ellison £100

Mr Burdon       £100  do M. Swinburn     £200

Mr Greenwell    £100  Tho Rowell         £ 50

Revd Mr Harding £200  Jose Watson        £ 50

Revd Mr Wilson  £100  Crs Emerson        £100

Mr Manners      £200  Thos Chapman       £ 50

Mr Wren         £100  Jno Emerson        £ 50

Jackson & Smith £100  Mr Walis           £ 50

Mr Dighton      £100                    ____

                                        £4000