Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 14 Dec 1736

To Wm Corbett Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle  Decemr 14  1736

Sr                                                                                   

      Inclosed I Send you an abstract of what proposals I have reced since the last Advertizment and also a list taken from the abstract of the best & most Substantial Bidders with whom it may be proper to Confirm, as I verrily believe no more offers will be made for any of those Farmes

	You will Observe the Severall Shapes in wch I have had Newlands & Whittonstall to bring the whole into a large Farme as possible whereby the Expence of building may be kept as low as may be & at last it will be no less than Eleven Farmes on which must be built Eleven Tennts Houses & other necessary Covences.  But as the Tennants who have offered are unwilling, nay absolutely refused to advance the Rent proportionable to the Expence of a Division the Expence of building will be the only Expence upon the Hospitall except finding Quicks which some of the Tennants agree to plant at their own Expence, nay I hope they will all doe so wch if they doe, I hope the Directors will Comply with it as it will greatly tend to the Improvement of the Estate

	I have had no other proposalls for any of the Keswick Lands but what I formerly sent you so there is no Expectations of a further advance there.  Mr King (who has been with Mr Grey Consulting about the bill now before him) tells me the Tennants are very Indifferent abt their Farmes.

	In Alstom moore was formely an Erection made for Smelting what was Supposed to be Copper Oare but was found to be only Sulpher, and the project failing one of the projectors who was probably a Sufferer in the project Sold this Erection to one Timothy Brown a Joyner in Alston for £22, Notwithstanding the Lord had a right thereto by the usual Covenant of leaving Erections on the premises at the Expiration or other determination of the Lease or Tack Note, Mr Brown has paid £11 of the purchase sometime agoe but apprehending after he had done so it was the Lords right, has refused paying the other half & therefore has desired me to lay it before the Board, to whom he is willing to pay the remainder of the purchase Money, they giving him an authority for removeg the Timber wch lys on the Spot to this day.

	I am also desired by Wm Lee of Lowbyre in the Mannour of Alston to represent to the Commrs a hardship that he has had upon him, from one Mr Hodshon of Tynehead who with holds the paymt of Tyths from an Estate he has there from the sd Lee the Farmer thereof but to State the Case Clearly to you Wm Lee is the Farmer or Representative of the Hospitall who are entitled to a 1/3d part of the Tyths in the Many of Alston Moore of wch this Estate of Tynehead is a part the possessor Mr Hodshon purchased the 2/3d of the Tyths some time agoe, and for some years has refused the pay ment of the other third to the Hospitals Tent Wm Lee who says it was formerly let for 20s per Ann.  what he therefore desires is that the Commrs will be pleased to Compell the sd Hodshon to pay Tyth or allow him it in his Rent.  He makes this Claim for 5 years at 20s per Ann.

	I had a Conference last Thursday wth one Mr Ilderton a relation of Mr Moores of Morpeth who Solicits for an Agreemt abt the Tyths of East Thornton abt Needless Hall, but as in the Conference he woud agree to nothing less than accepting of the small Tyths, I told Him I coud not agree to it, but on the Contrary acquainted him that the Hospitall were determined to defend their right & woud never agree to the paymt of any mann of Tyths till Compelled to it by law.

	John Fairlam the Farmer of Haydon Town who has made an offer for it again was with me last Thursday and acquainted me that Mr Ainesley of Hexham had reported that Farme to be upon Lease yet to Expire & the right of one Howdon at the yearly Rt of £32 that he had made application to the Honble Commrs & had obtained their Concurrance in favour of the sd Howdon & that Jno Fairlam woud be ordered to acquit the Farme.  This Sr being what I am a Stranger to thought it proper to lay it before you & I desire you will give me proper Instructions in it, as if Green leaves the Farme he will take <Dennetly> wch is refused by Wm Todd to whom it was Confirmed last General Court

	I Observe the Minutes of the last Court at Salters Hall relating to Lead Mines wch I wish to hear may be lett to Morrow as the Poor Country people are Starving for want of Imployment.  I allways was of opinion that no new Mines Coud be opened without Committing waist, & I believe Counsller Gray will give it as his Opinion.  all Mines that are now open or that have been so, may be pursued without doubt

      I am Sr    Your most Obed Servt

      N Walton