Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 13 Jan 1738

To Wm Corbett Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle. Janry 13/1737/8 



      The slow proceedings against Thomas Howden, Gren and others Tenants of haydon Town farm is realy such an Inconvenience to the Hospitals Affairs that I cannot help (after the Treatment I mett with yesterday) Accquainting you with It and beg It may be laid before the Board at their first meeting If you Judge It proper at that time, If not at the next Convenient time.

	That Affair of Green and Howdens being Dropt at the last Assizes by the proceedings being Irregular, has hung in suspence over time and no other proceedings appeare to be made against them wich Occasions the World to Suspect the Tory party to Insinuate that we have no right to prosecute the Law against them, nay the Tenants whose Rents have been  Advanced do not stick to say they see no reason for their very Advanced Rents when Green and Howden can maintain their pretended right against us, this is at present Insinuated and I wish it may not occasion too great trouble , I am sure nothing can prevent It but Imediate care being taken to prosecute the Law against all persons who Comitt such Offences.

	This will Appear to you most Evident by one Instance in one of the old Tenants of Allerwash who Absolutely refuses to go off jis Farm, and now tells us that as we cannot turn Green and Howden off, he will by the same rule Maintain his right against us, and how farr these slow proceedings put people upon Committing will appear to you in another Instance – one Simon <Dryden> has an estate Joyning upon Grindon Comon  and has ever since we have been Concernd Claimed a right of Graizing his cattle thereupon Notwithstanding  it appears that he nor his predisessors ever had any rights at all, and we have always Threatened him with a prosecution, if he at any time put his cattle upon that Comon which he durst not presume to do, till last week, when our bailiff Mr Bunting impounded them and he has since Replevyd them so that we shall be obliged to give him Tryall. I have acquainted Mr Airey with this who will take proper Stepps about it which I hope the Board will approve of.

	But to Shew you Further how the Hospital Affairs Suffer by these Slow proceedings and how the Creditt of the Directors as well as our Authority Suffers for want of Tenants Leases, I beg leave to relate to you hat I mett with Yesterday from one Lumley a Freeholder in Corbridge who came to me Solliciting our Concurrance in the Inclosing a part of Corbridge North Common, who after I had acquainted that I would not presume to agree without my principalls  Concurrance he told me he very plainly see we had no right at all to agree to anything, either as to Granting Leases or many other Affairs. I believe this part of the Common may be proper enough to be Inclosed, and will be an Advantage for the Hospitals Tenants, but before anything is recommended of that kind to the Board, for this Consideration I beg leave to Consult my partner Mr Boag in it he being now from home.

	I have remitted to Mr Wood Deputy Treasuer of the Hospitall Bills for accot. at the Hospitall value £541-11-0 and next post we hope wee shall send you our Cash Accot. for last Month. And in Mr Boags Absence I am for him 

      Sr. Yr most obliged and hble Servt. N.W.