Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 13 Mar 1739

Ravens Castle  March 13th.  1738/9

To Wm Corbett Esqr

Sir

      We recd. the Lease and have Examined it, and do not find but the Covenants are right, and we hope will do every well; but we begg leave to remark the following things viz.

      We think it will be hard for the Tenants to Apply to the Com[issioner]s for every little matter; such as taking up and laying down Grounds to Grass, and also for liberty to Sell a little Hay or Straw off the Premises, unless the Board give us a Discressionary Power to grant, or not to Grant such things from time to time as it shall see Reasonable.

      That Coven[ant] where the Tenant is obliged to Grind at Woodhall Mill, if they have none within the Manour , where the Premises lye will only Suit and Answer for those Tenants in the Barony of Langley, for it would be hard to cause a Tenant Carry his Corn 15 or 16 Mile to woodhall Mill, nay 20 or 30 Miles, if the usuall Mill within his Premises should be out of repair, or if there is no Mill upon them.

      The 43 Rood of Hedge mentioned to be Scoured every Year will only be for this one Lease of Jos:Piggs for the Coven[an]t is each Tenant at least is to Scour Pound and & Rood that is for every pound Rent a Rood of Hedge, so their Roods will Differ as their Rents doe.

      No Covenant for the Tenants Peaceable Enjoyment, we are of Opinion they will expect it, we mean only so farr as the Com[issioner]s can doe it.

      We should be glad the Leases were forwarded and filled up; nothing that is necessary for the forwarding that work shall be wanting, if we did but know what we should doe to forward them.

      We Begg you will be pleased to Move the Board, that we may have a Copy of Mr Thompsons Survey sent us down, for we have not an Exact Copy of it here.

      James Thompson the Present Tenant of Dilston hall and Gardens, having heard that Sev.l others had offered for the Hall and Gardens, came Yesterday to us and offer’d £10 A Year for them which is £4 Advance and we think it a good Rent, and recomend it to the Board to Accept of it, during their pleasure. We are

Sir Yr very Hble Servts

Nicho: Walton

Hugh Boag