Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 21 Sep 1770

Mr Mulcaster. 							Farnacres 21st September 1770



      On the other side you have a Copy of the Letter wrote to Mr Hunter by this days Post, being the first opportunity we had since receiving Mr Fawcetts Opinion; and we desire you will tell the Carriage Men to offer their Lead at the Turnpike Barr when and as often as they will and particularly that they are not in the least to Suppose that they have not a right to go thro' the Turnpike Gate as often as they please in a day without paying more than once if they have the same Horses and Carriage with which they pass thro' the Gate the first time the same day.

[annotated in margin: ‘if they are obstructed they must do as Matt. Reed did except they have Witness as below.’]

	For your information, but to be kept entirely to yourself, I send you the State of the Case with Mr Fawcetts Opinion and if you see anything improperly stated or short Stated I shall be obliged to you for your Opinion. As to a Plan I think you know the thing so well it is not necessary to send you one, and as to the Act of Parliament you must take Mr Fawcetts word.

      I should be glad to know whether Matthew Reed, or any, and what others, can prove their being Obstructed, and by whose Evidence, it can be proved,and what was said by the Barr keeper when they were Obstructed passing the Barr, as also the particular days when they were obstructed and the proofs of their having before paid Toll the same day for the same Carriage and Horses And lastly I beg that some of the Carriers who you can depend upon (or think you have a confidence in if you cannot depend on any) may be immediately desired to Offer Lead at the Gate with some Creditable and discreet Person to Witness and Note down what the Barr keeper says and how often the Carriage pays in a day. You will observe by this that when the Barrkeeper asks Carriage more than once he is to be paid our having Witness that he takes it more than once and how often for the same Carriage and same Horses, but otherwise the Lead had best be laid down as Matthew Reed did on the West side of the Gate when he was first obstructed. If the proofs of Matthew Reeds being obstructed or <Wear> or any others are clear ( after having paid the same day for the same Carriage and Horses) I shall be glad to know them as we may proceed upon these Proofs if they are clear, this you will do as soon as you can. I am

      Your most Hble Servt

      Nich Walton Junr



PS. The Case and Opinion are sent you in entire confidence and must not be made known to anyone.

      You shall certainly have Money when we see Mr Laybourne and if he does not appear before Sunday or then at farthest you must and shall have a Remittance by Tuesdays Post