Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 22 Nov 1737

To Wm Corbett

                                                                       Ravensworth Castle  Novr 22 1737

Sir

	We Reced Yours with the Board Minutes of the 16th of Novr Inst to which we have a Due regard and in Answer to that part thereof relating the Lead Ore Vein called Clargill Cleug Begg leave to have the Boards further Order in what way we Shod proceed to preserve and keep possession thereof.  The Vein being an Open one is Granted to Geo Liddle Esq and partners and they as Lessees are ready to begin to work which undoubtably is the most proper way of taking and keeping Actuall possession but they think It hard upon them to enter into an Expence of Disputing the Hospitalls Tythe unless they are Supported In It therefore they hope the Directors will take it into Consideration so as they as Lessees may not be Suffered in Case Mr Richardson shd prevail in the Dispute and turn them off this & <em> may be of Consequence to the Hospittall and in regard to the Very Old Evidences we now need produce (of 80 Years of age)  It seems much the Hospitalls Interest to have it Disputed soon as those Evidences to the riding a Boundary must in Course Dye in a small time which must <..> be a great loss If their Evidence cannot be perpetuated otherwise than by a Dispute in Law.

	As to the right which Mr Hodgsons Tenant had to take away Furnace’s Cow to be sure he had none but the pretence is that the Cow was not legally Seized as being in the Estate of Mr Hodgson which he Calls a Manner within itself to <Screen> himself for the payment to the Hospital  It was an Act of Violence the taking at this Cow but as It was by a Person who is now a beggar we Apprehend the Directors will be of Opinion that no Prosecution sho’d be brought Against him therefore we have Presumed to postpone doing anything therein till we have their further Commands

	Mr Simpson has at last had a Letter from Mr Hodgson about the payment of Tyth which we send you Inclosed with Mr Simpsons Letter which Covered it to us.  You will observe that Mr Hodgson Reckons his Estate a Manner within itself and Consequently not Subject to the Paymt of Tyth, Altho It is very provable that the Derwentwater Family always Rec’d Tyth thereof before Mr Hodgson purchased nay we believe some time afterwards and It is very easy to prove that Mr Hodgson purchased of Mr Stephenson of Croftlands and Mr Whitfield of <Newshield> (who are <Propietors of 2/3 of all the Tyths in Alston Moore) their Share of the Tyths of his Estate at Tynehead which  now Calles a Manner within itself what we demand as Tyths is 20s the Annum for the Hospittals third while You will Observe he refuses to pay and you will Observe what he says as to the Seizing the Cow taken from Furnace afterwards

	Mr <Rippeth> and partners are not willing nay they Absolutely refuse meddling with Winning Scremerston Colliery but writes us that they Expect to have the Winning Sett forward as soon as possible which when Completed they will perform All Covenants on their part and they will punctually pay the Rent they Offered in the mean time but hope there will be no Delay in the Winning as there Advance Rent is agreed

                                                                We are Sr     Your most Obedt Servts

      Walton and Boag



P.S.   The Character’s <H.P.over> the Lead Ore in the Moore Masters Accot are all for Horse Load containinging a Quarter of a bing And P. for poke being half of a horse load. Every Bing of Ore contains 4 Horse Load 64 Stone or 8 Cwt each sack <Cwt> being a poke of Ore.