Letter – Nicholas Walton to George Liddell – 28 Dec 1735

To George Liddell Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle  Decemn 28 1735

Honed Sr 

	The preceeding is our Letter or rather a Coppy of it to Mr Corbett this Post, which pursuant to your com[m]ands we send you

	We have mentioned to him as you will Observe that we apprehend the Tops of Trees etc now upon the ground are to be disposed of.  To which, we hope he will give his answer, but never the less as we have your Orders we will advertise them next week to be sold.

	We do not know that there was any wood cutt in Dilston park & disown’d, but shall enquire into it as p[ar]ticularly as we can as we Shall also doe with regard to the late Bayliff Atkinson, or any thing else that occurs to us.

	Sr Henrys & your favours conferred upon us we are ever in Duty bound to acknowledge & you will always find us doe it wth gratitude but we hope & begg Sr that no other Person may be nominated, as we can demonstrate to you that it will be more trouble to us than it now is, for Shou[l]d we Sr be concern’d withe a Person at Newcastle or at any other place at a distance, what trouble must we have in consulting one another; whereas now Sr we are upon the Spott together & will act in the utmost friendship & Sincerity, we can confide in each other, but we do not know that we can doe so with a third Person.  As to a Security (as Sr Henry and your Honr are pleased to appear at the head for us) we make no difficulty of Should it even be more than £1000. we have return’d to Mr Corbett the Ballance of our Accot:

	We have been at a loss for the Afadavits & a Coppy of the report, but will call upon Mr Airey or Mr Widderington for them as they will be of use.

	Mr Johnson we have a great opinion of as an honest Man & Mr Bunting seems an understanding Man: They & Mr [struck out: ‘Widderington’] Pearson shall not want Spurring up to their Duty.

	Mr Reed of Chipchase was with us at Hexham who said he understood the Farmes of the Derw[ent]water Estate were to be advertised to be lett, & that he hoped the friends of the Governant would have the preference, but he intimated that he had agreed with his Tenns for another year.  He pays £135 per Annm & letts to the under Tenns for £170 but it seems to be dear.

	We do not know that there was any Such Bayliff as John Ridley nor indeed any at Wark.  He seems a Soft man & not fitt for Such Imployment, but Should a Bayliff be appointed for Wark, it will be a charge upon the Hospitall.

      We are Honrd Sr Your Obedt Servs

      NW  HB