Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 15 Jul 1740

      Ravensworth Castle July 15th: 1740

To Wm. Corbett Esqr.



Sir

	I Reced. the favour of Mr Horn’s Letter of the 10th Inst in wch he Says You desire to know if Clargill head be the same of Clargill cleugh head. That You apprehend the proposall is Irregular, as Supposing half a Mine much less half of a String or Branch from a Mine cannot be wought without prejudice in Letting the other halfe.

	In answer to which, Clargill head is the Same Vein of Clargill Cleugh head, & the proposal made by Matthew Cousen & Robt. Race is for a String or Branch from it.      In Lead Mines it is very Comon, that Branches seperate themselves from what is called the Principal Veins, & You will please to observe, that every Lease consists of 1200 Yds in Length & 40 Yds on each Side of the Vein; so that a Lessee having a Grant of any Mine, has a right to Work all Branches only so far as they continue within the Bounds of 40 Yards on each Side of the Vein granted him.   Now in the present Case the String proposed for is at some distance from the Principall Vein of Clargillcleugh head, and lyes in a part of the Moore of wch the Hospital & one Mr Hopper are Joint Lords so that a Moiety is all we have to Lett, & is of the very same Tenure with Windy Brow. In order further to explain what we mean by a Branch from a Vein, I have Inclosed You a Sketch of a Lease Length on Clargill Cleugh head Vein, with the Breadths described, & the Branch proposed for. The Proposers are Common Workmen, who cannot be Supposed to Lay out much in Tryalls yett nevertheless it maybe very proper to Grant a Tack Note to them, as I do not apprehend any of the other Proposers will give so high a Duty, nor do I think it will be Any Inconvenience in letting the Rest. Coll. Liddell is so much recovered that I expect he is in his Coach today & I am for Mr Boag & Self

      Sir Yours &c

      Nich. Walton