Letter – John Watson – 22 Dec 1732

Extract of a Letter from Mr Watson to the Lords of the Treasury, Dated at Goswick near  Berwick on Tweed 22d December 1732

I have caused all the timber cutt down and lying upon the Northumberland Estate to be measured by Woodmen, which Mr Busby tells me he left as the proportion due to the Government, and which amounts to 778 Tuns, but part of it is not sound, which with your Lord[shi]ps Approbation I shall advertize and sell by publick Auction to the highest Bidders.

[Note in margin:] has caused the Timber cutt down in Northumberland to be measured

In persuance of your Lordships Commands after advertizing the sale of Lead Ore by Auction I put up 241 ¼  Bings (the Produce of the Mines for this Year) at £2..2..0. and sold it for £2..3..6. p Bing to the Agent of the Company for smelting down Lead Ore etc. he being the highest Bidder with [sic] is 3.6. P Bing more than the Ore of the same Mines has sold for, for some Years past. 

[Note in margin:] has sold Lead Ore at £2..3..6. p Bing

The Payment not been sooner, is that by reason of the badness of the Roads the Oar can not be brought from the Mines till next Summer, before which time it is usual to sell the Dues for the ensuing Year, which if it is your Lordships Pleasure, I shall do in the same manner as this, the Articles of Sale & Contract I have enclose your Lordships.

I have also agreeable to your Lordships Pleasure admitted Leadbitter & Partners the Principal Lessees of Allerwash, tennant at the improved Rent of £81..11..0. preferable to their Sub Tenants, and the Tenants of the other part are willing to agree to the same Rent which will advance that Estate from £110 to £163..2..0 p Annum. 

[Note in margin:] has improved the Rent at Allerwash

Your Lordships Servant having begun to Remit the Rents, and there being a hazard in lodging Money in the hands of Private Persons, it would be a great Security to him if he had the same Opportunity as the Genl Receivers have of Remitting to the Bank which without your Lordships Direction for that end I cannot have. 

[Note in margin:] Desires he may have the same Opportunity of Remitting Money to the Bank, as the Genl Receivers have



[Note in margin:] Method of managing Mines in Aldston Moore

The Method in which the Derwentwater Family have always managed the Mines in Aldston Moore, is, By granting Tack Notes or Articles of Leases, to make Tryals of the Veins of Ore; which Tack Notes were to continue for a Year, and if the Party to whom the Tack Note was granted, upon Tryal, upon Tryal, found the Vein likely to prove well, then he was to have a Lease for 21 or 31 Years, Paying every Fifth Bing of Ore to thr Lord; to receive which Dues from the Mine there has always been one appointed, with a Salary of £20. p Annum, which Oar was either smelted at their own Mills, or sold p Big for the Year. 

Since the Death of the late Earl the Mines have been neglected, there being no power of granting Leases, which made the Adventurers unwilling to lay out Sums of Money in search of Mines; which when Recover'd & win they had no Certainty of. 

[Note in margin:] Mines have been neglected since the Death of the late Earl

But if your Lordships would please to Grant a Power of letting Leases, the Mines wou'd turn to great Acct, for I have been apply'd to by several Adventurers, and some propose to be bound to expend great Sums in a limitted time, in winning the particular Veins they shall take Leases of.

[Note in margin:] If he had power of letting Leases the Mines wou'd turn to great Account

At present out of several Mines, there is only one called Festus Rake, Leased by the Quaker's Company from the late Earl, that works to any Advantage, But upon the Encouragement and Certainty of Leases there might be a great many.

[Note in margin:] Only one Mine at present that works to Advantage