Letter – John Bell to John Erasmus Blackett – 20 Oct 1793

Sir                                                                                 Hexham Abbey 20th October 1793



	I send you inclosed two Papers the one for Hexhamshire and the other for Allendale signed by several of the Proprietors of those different Districts for commuting their Tithes by giving Land for them - For the power under which this is to be done and the Regulations respecting the Allotments to be made in Lieu of Tithes see the 20, 21, 22 and 23 pages of the Act for the Division

	There are about 42 Proprietors in Hexhamshire and 256 in Allendale and as there are only 12 desirous of commuting their Tithes in the District of Hexhamshire and about 31 in that of Allendale perhaps it may require very little consideration with Mr Beaumont whether he will exonerate the Lands of those Proprietors or not

	Messrs Clarke and Tulip who Mr Beaumont saw respecting the Roads about Beaufront have desired me to hand him, which I now do through you, a Subscription Paper about those Roads (for his Signature) which is signed by the Two gentlemen before named who are Proprietors of Lands in Sandoe and by Mr John Hunter of the Hermitage who is no Proprietor in Sandoe but only may have occasion to travel that way as any other of his Majesty’s Subjects - The Dispute is now not whether the Roads are to be public Highways or only Bridleways but whether there shall be any Roads at all yet I think the Answer you have given for Mr Beaumont is the only one he should give

	I have received an Estimate which is £45 for cleaning and colouring the Chancel of Hexham Church, the same as that to be done by the Parish, which Mr Beaumont as Owner of the Great Tithes is liable to - The Workmen are to find all Materials and their own Scaffolding yet I think the Estimate high - compared with what the Parish is to pay - £56 but indeed as they say the Chancel Part of the Church will be more troublesome on Accot of the many Pillars that are in it

      I am  Sir Your most obedt Servt

      Jno Bell



The Game is now so wild there is no coming at any almost but what can be got shall be sent