Letter – Nicholas Walton to Thomas Corbett – 28 Dec 1735

To Thos Corbett Esqr

Ravensworth Castle  December 28th 1735

Sr                                                                        

	We are favoured with yours of the twentieth Inst last Post, with your Letter to the Moore Master Mr Stephenson to whome we have forwarded it pursuant to your commands.  You may be assured Sr of all the Information we can give with regard to the Lead Mines and that as Soon as possible & we are of Opinion no time should be lost in letting of them

	You would have had our report of the condition of Dilston House in our last, had we not been prevented seeing the roomes when we were there last Week; the keys thereof being as we are informed by Mr Busby in Mr Watsons Brothers hands, to whom we have Since applyed and he tells us he has them not, we have wrote to Mr Hutchinson abt them _ It would most certain be of advantage to lett the House provided it cou’d be done to a Gentn but we wou’d not advise it being lett in any other way, & the Quantity of Land to goe along with it will depend upon the figure of such Gentn as takes it, it may be from £40 to £100 per Ann[um].  What you further require with regard to the furniture etc shall be executed as Soon as we have the keys, Mr Watson the late Receiver may probably have them and we are at a loss how to write to him

	We find some Tennants by their Covenants are to Send Coales & other Items to Dilston House, but most of the Leases are out Severall indeed of the Long Leases in Langley Barony are not, You will observe Sr in our last that Sixpence is received for each Item of those that paid their Martinmas Rents, and we think that a Sufficient Satisfaction, and propose that all Tennants shall pay for Coales in the same manner according as they deserve after having delivered such a Quantity at Dilston House as is requesite for keeping the rooms dry, such Leases as are expired will only continue in this Way till Mayday 1737 at which time new Leases will Commence under usual Covenants without such a reservation as Items or Coales, We can give you no other particulars than that there is at Newlands & Whettenstall 82 fothers of Coales to be delivered at Dilston in each year & that in Langley Barony some pay Coales & Items & some only Items with their Martinmas Rent, but we cannot give you the number of Items or No of fothers of Coales pd out of Langley Barony as Severall of the Leases were not brought in

	The Counter part of all Leases being wanting ocasions a great deal of trouble and the haveing of them wou’d enable us to give you a more exact Accot of the p[ar]ticulars that may occur to us relating the Estate and woud we are sensible be of advantage to the Hospitall, We will be as p[ar]ticular as we can with Mr Busby about them as well as any thing we think may be of service to the Hospital

	We omitted inclosing you last Post a Copy of the Late Receiv Rect for the Rent of a Slate Quarry, being then in Hurry it is now therefore Sent you inclosed

	We have had the Opinions of Men of Judgement & Skilled in thinning or weeding of woods, how farr it will be necessary to thin the West wood near Hexham and they report to us about 100 Acres will want weeding & will cost about £50  Mr Boag has seen it & hopes it may be done for Less, but we do not think it necessary to cutt down the Stumps of Trees lately cutt by Mr Readhead except in such places as the wood is thin where they only can Spring again

	Severall Tennans has applyed to us for Wood for repair[in]g Gates Stiles & keeping old housing on foot we begg you directions whether such wood is as necessary for that purpose may be cutt and allowed where convenient

	We apprehend all blown Wood is to be sold for the Benefit of the Hospitall, and also all tops of trees or Roots now upon the ground.  we are Sr Your most Obedt Servts

      Nichos Walton  Hugh Boag



PS.  We have fixed going to Alston moore & to Keswick & cannot well without Inconvenience alter it, if therefore any thing is necessary for us to know <of> w[i]th regard to the Keswick Rents, we desire you will Informe us by the returne of the Post as we goe away

on Monday the 5 January next.