Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 28 Sep 1820

Mrs Beaumont Bretton					N[ew]Castle 28 Sept 1820

	

Madam 

      I yesterday went to Durham & had an interview with Revd Mr Phillpotts who expressed his readiness to enter into an Agreement of Comp[ositio]n for the Tithe Ore of the Parish of Stanhope. The <…..> to the valuable preferment he should give up in accepting the Parish of Stanhope; a Stall in Durham the next in emolument to Lord Barringtons (which is the best) and also the living of Crossgate in that City besides foregoing the certain prospect of obtaining something valuable in the South thro[ugh] the interest of Lord Eldon, which his prebendary would have enabled him to hold, but which the present arrangement precludes, under those circumstances he looks for and expects that his new situation will prove more than adequate in benefits to the sacrifices he has thus made. before therefore he could come to any conclusion to accept any terms as a Composition for his Tithe, he urged the necessity of being in possession of an Account of the Ore raised in the Parish; or if this was objected to, that a proposal by Col. Beaumont be made of the Annual Sum he would give – 

      I mentioned merely as a fact, the Composition paid to Mr Hardinge which he said he knew and also what the Bishop received – the Sum paid to the first he should never accept, and what was paid to the latter I remarked was upon an Agreement entered into for the two parishes of Stanhope & Wolsingham and when Lead was at £38 per fother but which was now selling at from 22 to 23 £ pfr a price considered high In Peace, and that it was quite clear unless moderate Compositions were entered into , enterprize must be restricted, labourage diminished to the great distress of the population and to the eventual injury of all parties <connected> with and dependent upon the Mines .- with these observations and with reiterating his Demand for an Account of the Ore raised or receiving the Offer of an Annual Sum either for the Bishop’s life, or his own possession of the living, the essential part of our conversation ended. It now becomes a subject of serious consideration for your determination and whether it would not be advisable to offer at once Mr Phillpotts £3000 p[er]An[nu]m for the Tithe Ore during the Bishop’s life for it is most certain that he will not take less of even that Sum, and under the circumstances which would distinguish this offer from the Agreement with the Bishop it may not appear one of great fairness. – Mr Phillpotts was very civil talked of having the Honor of meeting with you in Company at Mr Askews and requested that I would not fail to convey to you his respectful Compliments