Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 26 Sep 1736

To Wm Corbett Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle  Septmr 26 1736

Sr 

	It being now within three days of Michs we have Sent Orders to the Moore Master not to Suffer any Person to Continue working any of the Lead Mines in the Mannor of Alston moore, after Michs-day except Peatstack hill which is in the possession of Thomas Errington Esqr which we have given him leave to Continue working till further Order for the reasons following.

	That Mine called Peatstack hill is reputed to be verry rich, at least She has Afforded a greater quantity of Oare of late than any mine has done in Alston moore for some time, & as the working are all under Levell part of the Miners are obliged to draw Water Constantly while others are at Work & Shoud the whole work be Stoped the Cavetys made where the workings have been woud fill with water, by which means so great a body of Watr woud be Collected together that it woud be a great expence & is discourgemt to the Succeeding Lessee to have it to draw out, at the time which his Lease commences; not only so but a great Loss of time & Loss of Dues to the Hospl will ensue.

	For these reasons we have given Mr Errington liberty to Continue working after having assured us that he woud desist on the least notice, if therefore the Directors have any objection to what we have done in that Case You will be pleased by returne of the Post, or as soon as you Can Signifie their pleasure to us, & it shall be imediately put in execution, Mr Errington tells us that the prospect is not near what it has been at Peatstack hill, but we have desired the Moor Master to make a Report of the fact thereof to us.  It is a great pleasure to us that of any prospect of an advance in the Estate under our Inspection, & as we hope the Mines will fall into good hands, we doubt not but they will be a Considerable branch of the Revenue

	Yesterday Mr William Armorer of Berwick was with us desiring a Divission of Scremmerston he having a small Estate intermingled with Scremmerston calld Priors Land, of which we wrote your Brother Thomas Corbett Esqr 30 January last to which we referr, the Directors will therein see the State of the Case, & in Case they have a power to Divide, it woud most certain be their Interest to doe so, or agree to doe so upon their Letting a Lease, for we do not see how an improvement can be made upon the Common without such a divission

	Inclosed you will Receive the proposalls recd since ours of the 19 Inst as also an abstract of the whole of the 25 Inst Inclusive & you shall every Post hereafter receive all proposall given in to us

	Mr Boag will waite upon the Directors at their meeting at Salters Hall the 27 October next, but we hope they will think it proper to Confirm agreemt before that time as they will observe Severall Offers to be made to the full value & some above the Computation.  Should they not Confirm agreemt before the 27th It will we doubt be a great uneasyness & probably a means to loose the best of their Tennants, for every good Tennant is desirous of being upon a certainty at Michs day or as soon as possible afterwards.

                                                                      We are Sr  Your most Hbeds Servts

                                                                                     Walton & Boag