Letter – Nicholas Walton to George Liddell – 12 Feb 1738

To George Liddell Esqr 				Ravensworth Castle   Febry 12t.1737/8  



Hon’ Sir

	Inclosed we send you Mr Thompsons Acco. of the Quantity of Common and Inclosed Lands surveyed for the Com[missione]rs of Greenwich Hospital, and his Debt and Credit Accot. with the Com[missione]rs by which there is a Balance of £58 – 4 – 8 due from the said 

Com[missione]rs. Inclosed you have also Mr Ellisons Draught of the Articles of Agreem’t with Mr Thompson all which we give you the trouble of as he desires to wait upon you to inform you wherein he has suffered.

	By the Agreem’t, You will observe he undertakes to survey the whole of the estates (Scremerston Excepted) late belonging to James earl of Derwentwater in the Countys of Cumberland and Northumberland, and in Consideration of the extensive Comons which was to survey, he agreed to survey the  Inclosed  land at 2 ½ d per Acre.

	When this article was Drawn we were abroad and on coming home, we found an Agreement was made with Mr Thompson, and he was orderd to begin at Alston Moore, which being Consented at that time by us to be about Forty thousand Acres, we recommended it to the Hospitall not to have it surveyd in regard that it would be a very great expense, upon which they ordered that it shoud not be surveyd till further order. Mr Thompson upon that began with Dilston and surveyd it, and all the Inclosed Lands which together amounts to 21614 Acres and 34 Perches and of commons 14157 Acres 3 Roods and 37 perches, by which small Quantity of Common Only being surveyd he says he is a Looser, for he says he woud not have undertaken the Survey of the Ingrounds for less than 3d per acre had it not been out of a view of profit by the extensive Commons, which he says he always expected would be at least 40,000 Acres.

	Now Sir if Mr Thompson out of a view of having 40,000 acres of common to survey accepted of 2 ½ d per acre on 21614 acres and 34 perches of Inground which otherwise he woud not have done under 3d per acre and when he comes to the survey he finds he has only to survey 14157 acres 3 roods and 37 perches of common, then according to that proportion he ought to be paid 2 ½ d per acre for 7650 acres of Inclosed Lands and 3d per acre for the remainder being 13964 acres and 34 perches so that instead of what he charges it woud stand thus

	

7650 acres of Inclosed Land at 2 1/2d p acre	        £79 10  9	

13964 acres and 34 perches at 3d                         174 11  0 

14157 acres 3 roods and 37 perches of common at 1 1/2d    88  9  8 1/2 

                             Amounting in the whole to  £342 14  5 1/2

              and by his accot. you will observe it is   313 12  8 

                                            Difference   £29  1  9 1/2



This £29 – 1 – 9 ½ putts Mr Thompson upon the same footing as if he had surveyd the Inclosed Lands only, at 3d per acre and seems to be according to the agreem’t made with him and in case he is allowed that sum he will have no cause of Complaint, but be that as it will he will submit it to your Determination and be content with whatever you think him deserving of.

	The Com[issioners] were acquainted that he hoped they woud make him an Allowance in Consideration of his not surveying Alston Moore Common, and they gave for answer that we were to consider what allowance was proper to make him and report our opinion when the maps were Finished and that we coud send his acct but as we thought it better to have their thoughts upon it before we communicated ours to the Board we will defer sending the accot. till we know what your thoughts upon it are.

	You will please to observe Mr Thompson is to allow us 10s per thousand for valuation of over 1000 acres which we have not charged in the accot.

      We are Hond. Sr

      NW, HB