Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 16 Feb 1782

Messrs. Mulcaster						Farnacres 16th. February 1782.



      We received both yours of the 4th & 12th inst relative to the School at Deanraw, and think Willm. Swinburn has behaved very impudently and improperly in sending his Sons there without applying to you or us, for as he did not contribute towards the Building, we think him not entitled to any expectation of use from the School except by permission, & therefore unless he comes to you and acknowledges his fault in sending the Boys without leave and pays you as much Money as is equal to the expectation you had of what in reason he ought to have contributed along with others, we insist upon it that none of his Children shall be permitted to go to Deanraw School.  With regard to Thomas Coats, he has behaved foolishly impertinently and insolently, and therefore we beg you will immediately acquaint him that unless he acknowledges his Fault to you, our Friendship to him is at an End, & we do insist that for the time to come when any Differences arise the same be referred to you to settle or otherwise it would seem proper to level the School with the Ground or convert it into a Cottage for some of our Workmen at Langley Mill, for we will neither allow Thomas Coats or any other of the Hospitals Tenants to be Ruler.   The above are our Sentiments after having consulted together upon the Subject & we expect that proper Regard should be had thereto & you shd. sooner have heard from us, but we had no time to fix upon what in our Idea was necessary ‘til this very Day.   Pray acquaint Wm. Swinburn and Thomas Coats with every particular of the above wch. relates to either of them, and in addition tell Coats that if he lays hands on any Child again, we will ourselves be at the expence of prosecuting him.   We are

      Your &c.

      W[alton] & T[urner]



PS Possibly we may prosecute him for what has been done.