Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 28 Oct 1818

      NCastle 28 Octr 1818

Mrs Beaumont Bretton



Madm 

I beg to enclose a letter received from Mr Williamson this day with an extract from one rec[eive]d from Mr Newburn Sol[icito]r at Darlington, respecting the None payment of £4000 property Tax to Government, in consequence of the Mony rec[eive]d by the Collector there, being deposited in the Bank of Messr Mowbray & Co at the period of their failure. – If on Mr Newburn furnishing Col Beaumont with Copies of the petitions or memorials to any of the official Departments, steps could be taken to induce the Lords of the Treasury to direct the withdrawing the Exchequer Process issued against the Inhabitants of Darlington to make good the <a…> deficiency, it would be a relief from a situation apparently unjust, and certainly a great hardship, and which if proceeded in by the Exchequer, you Madam, as a principal Contributor to the Property Tax in that Township, may be the greatest sufferer. – Had Mr Beaumont taken his Seat In the Ho[use] Commons and entered upon public business, His assistance in obtaining the relief sought for, might have been effectual; but as the opportunity of his doing so, has not yet occurred perhaps your application to Mr Arbuthnot may be of service

	I remain etc   MM





      Whickham 23 Octo 1818

Martin Morrison Esq



Dear Sir

On the other side of this sheet I have sent you an extract of a letter which I have received from Mr Newburn a respectable Solicitor in Darlington, and which you will perhaps think it right to communicate to Col & Mrs Beaumont. I fear it is rather an hopeless affair, as the remission <of taxes> is a request that can hardly expect a very favourable reception from Governm[en]t in the present situation of the Country – However as the case is one of great hardship and as I fear that Col Beaumont will ultimately be liable to contribute to the deficiency, it may perhaps be thought adviseable to comply with Mr Newburns request so far as to procure some Friend of  Col & Mrs Beaumont now in Town to apply formally to the Commissioners for the Affairs of Taxes, or to the Treasury, upon the subject: I rather think that a representation to the Treasury should have been made in the first instance. – I have suggested to Mr Newburn the propriety of furnishing Col Beaumont with Copies of such petitions or memorials as He may present to any of the official Departments in this business. – I am Dear Sir

      Yrs very <..>  <Rt Hopper> Williamson



On the failure of Mowbray & Co Stephens (our Collector of Income Tax) had deposited £4000 property Tax in their Bank, and after a lapse of 3 years we are now called upon to repay it & an exchequer Process is issued against the Inhabitants of this place, to recover that Sum. It appears that Col Beaumont, the London Lead Comp[an]y and several others at the commencement of the Income Tax, solicited to be Assessed in the Township of Darlington, with which the Commisioners complied. - Their Income Tax was regularly transmitted to the Clerk of the Commissioners and by him paid over to the Collector. Now of the £4000 those Gentlemen had paid £2868 which with the residue was deposited in Mowbray & Co Bank & lost on their failure. It has been deemed advisable here to present a petition to the Commissioners for the Affairs of Taxes, and as the <aid> of those who stand well with the Government is of the utmost importance, I beg leave to ask the favour of you to ask Col Beaumont if he will be obliging enough to assist us in this unfortunate affair in or application to the Commissioners for relief. –