Letter – Nicholas Walton to George Liddell – 15 Dec 1738

      Ravensworth Castle Decemr 15th: 1738

To George Liddell Esqr



Honrd Sir,

	We reced Yours of the 6th Inst and are sorry to find you have so much Trouble about the Survey of the Derwentwater Estate, with regard to the Gratification for Isaac Thompson, as he had not the Benefitt by Surveying the Commons.

	We have gone thro’ all that has been said about it to us and the Letters we have wrote to the Board & cannot find we had any Direction to make the Agreement with Mr Thompson, nor does it appear that ever an Agreement was made by the Directors for Surveying the Inngrounds only. We have also got of Mr Ellison what letters he had from you relating the Survey & his answer to you setting forth the conversation he had with Mr Thompson upon the Treaty & as follows you have a Transcript of the whole as farr as is material wth our Remarks thereon,



1735  Nov 19th

    Mr Corbett acquaints us that the Directors are [underscored: ‘willing to agree’] with Mr Isaac Thompson to Survey the Estate Inngrounds and Commons together to Map the Same in a Folio Book with vellum leaves, a farme or Small estate in a Sheet or Leafe, the said Maps to contain the Buildings, Rivers, Brooks, Roads, Pitts, Quarries & other Remarkables & to have a Field Book with the value and quantity and a Duplicate of the whole to be made in Quarto for two pence per acre, the Charge of the Books to be defray’d by the Hospital.

        

    You will observe Sir by this Minute the Directors are [underscored: ‘willing to agree’] which we understand it means no more than a power for you to agree on these terms, so that as no Agreement  appears to hve been made in pursuance of it, the repeating it the 3 December  invests you with a power to agree for the Inngrounds at 2 ½ d per acre .



1735 Dec 4th

   In yours to Mr Ellison you say ‘I shall have the Court of Directors Orders to agree with Mr Thompson at 2 ½ d per acre for Inngrounds maps &c in case we doe not survey the commons & if we doe then 1 ½ d per acre for them, or to be in the option of the commissioners to have the whole done at 2 pence, both Inlands & Commons, if they think it better so that it shall be in their option which to take.



1735/6  Janry 6th	

    Thomas Corbett Esqr. writes to N.Walton & adds a Postscript, & says ‘You will doe well to quicken Mr Thompson in the Survey of the Estates, which is very much wanted to be done as soon as possible. The Agreement with him is that he is to survey all the Inngrounds of the Estate (Except Scremmerston which he has done already, and to Map the same in a Folio Book with Vellum Leaves, a Farm, or Small Estate in a sheet or Leafe the said Maps to Contain the Buildings Rivers Brooks Pitts quarries & other Remarkable things, and to have a Field Book with the Vallue & Quantity; & a Duplicate of the whole to be made in Quarto at 2½ d per acre, the Charge of the Books to be defrayed by the Hospital.

    You will be pleased to observe Sir that here is an order to quicken Mr Thompson in the Survey, but no order to make any agreement with him, nay on the contrary he says an agreement was made, wch was not in fact so as will appear, by your letter of this date to Mr Robert Ellison, which we quote as follows.

    

1735/6 Janry 6th

	You say ‘Mr Corbett writes to their Receivers at Keswick & orders them to agree with Isaac Thompson, for Surveying th Estate & writ to them to send you that order. But as it may loose time & as I question whether it may be so fully expressed I therefore send you inclosed, Mr Corbetts Letter to me in Novrlast, & a Minute of his Conference and mine upon it on what Terms he was willing to doe it if the Commissioners agreed to it which they doe only Incert that he shall putt the Valuation to the several parcells or sorts of land in each Farm or Estate, wch he did not then agree to as you see by my Minute, he alledging he was not a Judge of the value of Land in such distant parts of the Country. But I think he might considering the Quantity afford to pay a Judicious man for doing it; or pay a Certain Sum & we appoint the Valuers. Pray will you treat with him  & observe that you do not run into an Error and mistake one another. In the Minute it is said that he will map the Inngrounds at 2½ d & the Commons if Desired at 1 ½ d so that it wou’d seem prima Facie that he was to have 2½ d for all that he surveyed except Common, but that was not my meaning nor his as I think I can demonstrate. He Surveyed Scremmerston for which he had 2d per Acre wch estate was 1100 Acres of Ingrounds & 1800 Acres of Outgrounds which he calls Moore, I take it in most of the estates, there are Inngrounds , Outgrounds & Moors – If he Surveys the Inngrounds & Outgrounds if not clearly Express’d he will have 2½ d per Acre for both wch I do not think wou’d be right, for where open Grounds are only Rounded with the Chain it shou’d only be 1½ d I think, but pray talk to him on that Subject & lett me know.’

	Now Sir by this Letter of yours and the Words Scored under it is palin no agreement was then made by the Directors or You, but that Mr Ellison was to Transact it with Mr Thompson & acquaint you with his proceedings thereon, wch it will afterwards appear he did & acquainted you with it accordingly.



1735/6 Janry 8th

	You say in your Letter to Mr Robert Ellison ‘That Mr Thompson will undertake to Survey the whole of the Derwentwater Estates & to Map in a Book of Folio Vellum & in another of Quarto Vellum or Thick paper, & to make a Field Book to each Book containing Buildings Rivers &c at 2½ d per Acre, & also the Commons if desired at 1½ d per Acre. The whole to be exactly Surveyed and Map’d after the best manner. There is also one thing to be explain’d. He said what he offered to doe it for, was cheaper than he had ever done for any one whereas he Surveyed Scremmerston which was only 948 Acres & 1900 of Moore, & he had for the whole 2d per Acre. The 1900 I think is out pasture or Moore, if therefore he were to have Surveyed it again by the aforesaid Minutes at 2½ d and 1½ d then I agree it wou’d be cheaper but by the above Minute