Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 11 Jul 1741

 								Ravensworth Castle July 11. 1741

To Wm Corbett Esqr.



Sir 

      In Obedience to the Boards order of the 29 Apr. last, we have made Enquiry into the Hardships of Thomas Stephenson the Tennant of <Hartside> Colliery which we find to be comprehended in Sinking Shafts Driving Levells and Cutting a dike three times over. He has produced to us an acct. thereof which we send you Inclosed:  As to the Certainty of the Expense we cannot Exactly Judge, Altho’ from the Appearance of the work which has been done it cannot we think be much Short of what he represents it to be. The Col.y. was not in a good Condition when he last took but as that was in part owing to himself (who had been in possession for many years) he would not have had a Claim justly to any Allowance had not a want of men in that place <moved or back> obliged him to goe into a new Winning in a fresh one. The Colliery you will please to observe was advanced £3 a year which by the new winning will we hope be Continued during the Lease of 21 years, & as without that winning the whole must have been lost, we think it may be reasonable to make an Allowance , Altho’ not so large a one as he demanded. Mr Stephenson is a man of very good Character & a reasonable one from which, if the Board Approve it, we wou’d hope to Content him with about £50 or £60  if they think proper to leave it to us, we wou’d do our best or otherwise pursue what other Method they shall please to direct, to make an end of this demand.

	By the Boards Minute of the 1st July Inst. We are Ordered to se[e] that the money due from Ralph Readhead for waist committed in the Derwentwater Woods, be remitted to the Treasurer of the Hospital & that we acquaint the Board when that is done. In Ansr. to which we beg leave to [….] an Acct. of the Exact Sum we are to demand of him for waist & charge if the Latter be to be paid by him, as we have no other acct. save that of its being said in the sd Minute of the 1st July, that the sum for Waist is £45.. odd money.

	We cannot tell what to say with regard to the Bidding of the Derwentwater Woods, as Stephen Eltringham & ptners have not made an offer. They assar’d us they would give £5000 for those in Northumberland , in that they have not made that offer we are Apprehensive there is an understanding between them & the Person Mr Denton bidds for. As no confirmation can be till the first day of net Terme we will use our Endeavours to come at the truth of this Combination and to [crack] their measures if we can possibly, and of what Steps we take you shall be Acquainted  from time to time. Mr Radley has wrote to know what liberties may be proper to grant to the parchasers of these woods , which we will in a post or two settle according to the Custom of this Country in such cases & send it to him.

	This day we have remitted the Int[erest] due to the Heirs of Dr Chamberlain at Last Lady day, and also the Annuity due then to Lady Kath Radcliffe to Mr Mannock Strickland. Mr Strickland desires to know if the Tythe of Dilstone and Lorbottle be assigned to us by the late Rec[eiver]s  to which we have given for Ansr. that he shall hear further from us on that head afterwards. Please to acquaint the Board with this and that the Assignment has been made to us of these Tythes, After which please to let us know what Ans we are to give to Mr Strickland.

	We have given directions to make a quantity of Coales already sent up to London Cha[rs] or as near as can be in small vessells for the use of the Hospital & this week we hope to load one vessel  & we are, Sr

      Yours &c

      Walton & Boag  



[This table is given on the next page but appears to belong with the letter to Corbett of 11th July]



The unforeseen Expense not mentioning the common expense of Thomas Stephenson of Cross lands in Alstonmoor in Carrying on the Colliery of Heartside mentioned in a Certain Petition from the sd Thomas Stephenson to the Honble the Governours of his Majestys Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich.



Expenses of Sinking two new shafts                      £50

Driving the Levells up to the Old Mans forehead          35

Cutting a main dike three times over                     17  3  6

                                                       £102  3  6



More expences which I shall be at in Sinking shafts &c 

and making a Pavement for Cart and Carriage to the sd 

shaft or Pitts                                          £35

                                                       £137  3  6