Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 11 Apr 1742

To William Corbett Esqr 					Ravensworth Castle Apr 11.  1742



Sir

      We reced. your of the 27 & 30 of March last with the Boards Minutes of those dates, which we duly observe & in pursuance of the Boards order we have put into the Newcastle papers the Advertizements for Letting the Severall Farmes & for Sale of the dues of Lead Ore from Mich. Last to Mich. next

      As to the Sale of the Lead Ore dues we think it shoud not have been limited to Michaelmas but to some earlier period, which would have admitted the purchaser of them Sufficient time this Summer to lead them away for after Michaelmas it will be very difficult to remove them by reason of the Wett Season they have generaly in that Country; and weare apprehensive if they are not then removed that they Cannot sooner than the next Summer doe it, & Consequently will not agree to pay the money so soon as if they were removed before Mich. next by six or nine Months, by which the Hospitall loose the Int[erest] of the money for that time.

      Thomas Cook the Tennant of Woodhall Mill refuses to Execute his Lease but we hope will be prevaild upon to Stay another Year, however if he do not we will doe our best to get a Tennant for that time, & as there is no doubt but the mill will Lett for a Terme of 21 Years we think it shoud be added to the Advertizementof the 30 March last if the Board approve it. You will please to put in these words following vizt. [underlined: ‘Woodhall Mills & Grounds thereunto belonging in the Chapplery of Haydon & County afores’d’] to follow the words Thomas Errington Esqr.

      John Coates of Woodhall in the Chapplery of Haydon & Man[o]r of Wark proposes to take a tack note for one year with a liberty of a Lease for 20 Years more all that vein of mineral of Lead called Brokenhaugh Lead Mine in the Barrony of Langley & County of Northumberland containing in Length 1200 Yard & 40 yards on Each Side of the vein at 1/5 Duty to the Hospital which we beg leave to recomend to the board to Comply with.

      We last Post reced. a Letter from Mr Thomas Simpson Court Keeper at Aldstone Informing us that Mr King Court keeper at Keswick intends to resign his Imployment on accot. as we suppose of his being remov’d from thence between 20 & 30 miles which makes the attendance Inconvenient. And in Case of Such resignation Mr Simpson prays that he may succeed to the Office of Courtkeeper at Keswick. Tho’ Mr King has not mentiond this affair to us, we are of Oppinion that in his Situation he cannot give the Attendance necessary and as Mr Simpson is well quallifyed to act in that Station we beg leave to recommend him as the most proper peson for the Interest of the Hospitall. He is a man of undoubted ability & weight in the County of Cumberland & being Clerk of the Peace is the most proper person to make the proceedings in Petty Courts within Private mannors effectuall.

      We have returnd from the Rec[eip]t of the Rents thro’ the whole estate & have a Large Sum in our hands, but Cannot yet get remittances for it. We are making up our cash Acct. which will send in a post or two & we hope remittances soon after for the balance. We are 

      Sir Yours &c

      Walton & Boag