Letter – Nicholas Walton, Hugh Boag to George Liddell – 21 Dec 1735

To George Liddell Esqr



Honrd Sr                                                                   Ravensworth Castle   Dec 21st 1735

	We got to this place last night about Nine o Clock from Hexham where we writt you a Short Accot of our proceedings So far as things had then occurd & we Intended giving you a full Accot of the whole this post but we find it will take us all this day to putt the Remarks etc that we have made into Forme so that you will have it next post & it is not possable to doe it Sooner

	The Tenants of Langley Baroney pay well & wee gott Part of Wark & Ellrington as Also a p[ar]t of Coastley & Uppar tenants but Except one man did not gett a penny out of Hexham Shire.  The whole of our recet will amount to abt £770.

	You will find by the Accot next post that we have received a Rent for a Slate Quarry which was not in the Rentall & you have Inclosed a Coppy of the late Necery Receipt for what Rent was paid for that Quarry in the year 1734.  There is Also a collry possed by Mr Aynesley which he letts for £20 A year & we believe is from thence furnished with fire Coale at his Country House at Threepwood.  Mr Aynesley would not produce his last Recet for which Reason we did not think proper to take his Rent.

	Severall of the Tents of Langley Baroney did not bring in their Old Leases & have Reason to believe partley Ocasion’d by Mr Ainesley.  as one, John Ridley of West boate told us he was advised by him not to bring in his.  & Severall others told us they were Inform’d we intended taking their Leases from them for which reason they did not bring them, This Sr must Certainly have been industeriously Sett about by Mr Aynesley to make us odious & give us trouble in the Execut[ion] of an office that we find no Difficulty in at all.  Besides Sr Mr Aynesley we find makes it his bussyness to make us Odious in the Eyes of the world & Says he knows we will be a very little while Con[c]ern[e]d & that as Soon as the Members get to Town there will be an overturn.  This we are assurd of being fact from Mr Winship of Corbridge to whome he told it from which Sr it is very plain he will make it his busyness to distress us in any thing that is in his power.  & Should he be con[c]ern[e]d the Hospitall never can have their busyness done as it will otherwise be

	Whatever has Occured to us in this Journey we have remarkd wth the care that was possable & they as well as the Cash Accot shall be Sent to you Next post, the Same as we we send to Mr Corbett

	The Chief of Beaufront was Exceedingly Cevill to us, he came to See us in the morning after we got to Hexham & we had his & the Company of Some Substanteall Tennants on freyday Evening after we had done Busyness.  He desird we would present his Service & Assure your Hons that any thing he knows with regard to the Lead mines or any part of the Estate Should never be awanting   We understand there is a prospect of a Lead mine in Dilston park of which there was intended a Tryall & a Tack Noate was granted to Mr Errington by the late Recers with a Reservation of a quarter part & a liberty to come in at any time when they pleas’d

	We hope Sr you will excuse are adding more till Next post & we are Hond Sr Yor Obedt Servts

      N Walton	H Boag