Letter – Martin Morrison to George Crawhall – 3 Oct 1818

      Newcastle Octo 3/1818

Mr Geo Crawhall Newhouse



D[ear] Sir 

I have rec[eive]d your L[ette]re & I regret to observe that the Workmen continue in so bad a spirit. – What I proposed to do for them was upon my own Responsibilty, unauthorized by any directions from Col & Mrs Beaumont, who by a letter received in answer to the petition, which conformable to the promise I made to the first deputation at N’castle was forwarded to Bretton, have expressed their Resolution not to attend to their Petition whilst the Miners act in an illegal manner and refuse going to Work. Having however of my own accord advanced the price 5/- pBing on condition of the Men going to Work I pledge myself that condition shall be confirmed. – Whatever has passed between the Men deputed, [struck out: to wait upon] and Mr Beaumont at Hexham is a matter I cannot speak to, as MrB[eaumon]t yet does not interfere therefore neither will nor can give directions respecting the Mines; but I did understand from him that he had recommended them to return to their Work, if they expected their complaints to be attended to; that he did not know that I had made an advance to them, he has since told me himself, & on the whole he considered himself as having  nothing to do with the business, but only to give his recommendation to the Men for their own benefit to return peaceably to work. – Under all the circumstances you & all reasonable Men will be convinced I have done all that I can do or ought to do & that whatever measures the Workmen may adopt, is upon their own responsibility, - If they determine to go to work on the terms of last Quarter Bargains, in the expectation of having their demands complied with in the quarter commencing with the Year I distinctly declare that I cannot make them any promise that so much will be conceded. – If they do go to work it is a matter between themselves & Col. Beau[mon]t but without any promise being made by the latter. In the event of the Men being so misguided as to proceed to the commitment of injury to the property of their Employers it must fall upon the Country & of course themselves to repair the damage that is done, besides the punishment which the Law inflicts upon the perpetrators of Injury – <On> the whole your communication impresses me with the opinion that the Men will return to their Work soon & that an apparent indifference on your part to their proceedings may have a good effect  I am  MM