Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 16 Nov 1738

      Ravensworth Castle Nov. 16. 1738

To Mr Wm Corbett



Sir

	We received yours with the Boards Minutes of the 28th of October last and also those of the 1st of November Inst. and Mr Aynesleys bill of Law charges which shall be paid at our first oportunity and the severall orders of the Board shall be duely Executed.

	Inclosed we send you our Accot. for last Month on which remaind a Balance of Five Hundred & Seventy Two pounds fifteen shillings & ninepence three farthings in favour of the Hospital. We have recd. severall sums since the End of last Month which enables us to send this day to Mr Wood the Deputy Treasurer Bills for One Thousand pounds for the use of the Hospital.

	Inclosed is Mr Stephenson Moore Masters Accot. of Ore raisd in Alston moore in the Quarter ending at Michaelmas last wth the number of Mines at Work & proceeding to by levels, and allso  the number of hands Imployd. You have also Inclosed his Accot. of Mines  not at Work at Michaelmas last.

	Scremerston Colliery has formerly been wrought so near the surface that by some accident the seam of Coale has been on fire many years, wch of late years by the opening of a number of pitts, & admitting of Aire, has Increased, & is at present to that degree as to lay the workmen off work and unless some expedient is found the Collierys will inevitably be destroyed. We have given direction to stop the present Levell wch conveys the water from the colliery, by which means we hope the cavitys may be all filld with water and the fire may be extinguishd, but if that is not effectuall, a new Winning must be begun immediately. The Undertakers or present Tennants have been and are great sufferers wch Induces us to recommend them to the favour of the Hospital & we are

Sr your most Obed. Hble Servts

NiW  

HB



[The quarterly account referred to can be found, with others, in the spreadsheet entitled ‘TNA 66 106 Alston Moor dues tables’ available to download from The National Archives page elsewhere in this website]