Letter – John Bell to John Erasmus Blackett – 13 Dec 1793

Sir                                                                                 Hexham Abbey 13th Decemr 1793



	I got home on Wednesday and in my way through Newcastle had a Conference with Mr Williamson and Mr Heron respecting Westburnhope and upon considering that the antient Inclosures as so called contain only about 97 Acres and cost £140 in the last Century - that the Estate in the purchase Deeds is described to be a Messuage Tenement or Farmhold and Sheep-Walk and also taking into Consideration the political Situation of the Country when the purchase was made coupled with the Enjoyment Mr Heron and I flatter ourselves a tolerable good Case may be made I therefore desire you will be pleased to request Mr Skelton to send the Purchase Deed here without Loss of Time that a Case be stated for Counsel

	I left with Mr Skelton Dickson a Scots Planters Catalogue of Trees and Pines and Hunter’s Catalogue that he might compare them together as also a Letter from Mr Walton on the Subject of planting he having got a great deal of Land planted both for Greenwich Hospital and the late Sir Harry Liddell

	I observed to Mr Skelton that the Scots Planter gave 1200 to his 1000 and Hunter gave the bare 1000 only but in order to balance that the carriage from Scotland would be to pay whereas there would be no Carriage to pay for Hunters Trees

	Hunter happened to be with me this morning and I mentioned to him the Difference between the Scots 1000 and his 1000 he said it was a Mistake and that the Printer of his Catalogue had put down a 1000 instead of 1200 for that he gave the long hundred or £20 I then told him he ought to have corrected his Catalogue before he distributed any of them because without having it explained no one could understand it to be so as it was printed

	While I was writing this Letter the Tenant of Hexham Fell Colliery called in to know what was to be done respecting it because as the Bridge is now passable for people on Horseback and also for Carriages he cannot vend Coals to pay the Workmen’s Wages  I told him this Matter had been mentioned to you and your Determination was that he could continue his Year out which will expire at Midsmr next - he replied that was very hard and hoped no Gentleman would take such an Advantage of his Tenant as to make him pay a dead Rent or rather worse when the Rent would not pay the Wages

      I am Sir Your Faithful and most obet Servt

      Jno Bell



[On reverse in a different hand, apparently that of Richard Noble.]



No 2 - Dec 2d 1687    Release Sir John Fenwicke on the one part and Edwd Burdett of Grays Inn in the County of Middlesex on the other part  Of All that Mesue Farm Tenement or Sheepwalk called Westburnhope  And all Tythes &c



No 4 - August 14 1691  Release Edwd Burdett in the one part and Sir William Blackett on the other part of the said premises



Dec 18th 1793  The above Deeds were sent by the Coach directed for Mr Bell

                                                                                                Richd Noble