Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 18 Mar 1792

John Ibbetson Esq					Farnacres 18th March, 1792



Sir

      On Tuesday last I attended a Meeting of the Proprietors of Estates having Common Rights on Hexhamshire and Allendale Common for the purpose of reading over the Bill intended to be presented this Session of Parliament for dividing and inclosing part of the said Common and Stinting the remainder. The Meeting was at Hexham and consisted of near upon one Hundred Persons and the busyness got thro’ with great unanimity. Upwards of Ninety Persons had signed the consent Bill when I left Hexham and the Gentleman who is to attend with it in the House of Commons went into the Country on Wednesday Morning to get the Signatures of several Persons and a Meeting was to be at Allendale Inn on Friday for the purpose of getting more Signatures, but it is realy extraordinary that numbers of the Proprietors will not attend upon those occasions but leave it to their Neighbours to sign for them and as many of them work at the Lead Mines in Yorkshire & in the Countys of Durham and Cumberland the signing of the Consent Bill has been & will be much delayed by this infatuated behaviour. I named Mr. John Fryer the Lord of the Manor named Mr. Wm. Bates and they named the third Commissioner Mr. Thomas Bates. The Three Arbitrators are Wm. Wilson Esq. Robert Hopper Williamson Esq. and William Fearon Esq. three Baristers at Law of Newcastle and Messrs. John Fryer & Wm. Bates are Surveyors. It being necessary to raise Money for Paying expenses of prepairing the Bill and getting it thro’ both Houses of Parliament I have taken upon me as Agent for Greenwich Hospital along with Mr. John Bell Agent for Sir Thomas Blackett and sevl . Gentlemen who are Proprietors in an engagement to the Newcastle Tyne Bank to make good such Sums as may be drawn out by Mr R. Heron who is Sollicitor upon the occasion not exceeding in the whole £600 — and doubt not the Board will approve of my having taken that Step & indeed if I had not I found that part of the busyness very likely to be attended with some difficulty. I shall if possible send you the Substance of the intended Terms by Mondays (tomorrows) Post which will probably bring this also  and at the same time I propose sending a Copy of the Bill for Mr Everest

      I am Sir yr most obed Servt

      Nicholas Walton Jnr.



No opposition to the Bill.