Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 4 Nov 1737

To William Corbett Esqr

                                                                               Ravensworth Castle  Novemer 4th 1737

Sir

	We were Favoured wth Yours of the 28th of October last wth the Boards Minutes of the 19th preceding wch we duely Observed & we reced also a letter from Mr Snowball wch is sent to him.

	Inclosed we Send you Mr Stephensons & our Joynt Report of our View of Longcleugh Middle Cleugh & Capel cleugh Mines in Answer to the Boards order of the 19th Ulto which we hope will be to them Satisfactory

	Upon our last being at Alston-moor there is a Vein appears to have been open, which before was deem’d an unopen Mine, It is called Clergil Cleugh and lyes on the South Side of a burn called Ale burn wch divides the Countys of Northumberland & Cumberland but in a disputed part of the Common  This part of the Common in dispute is Claimed by one Richardson of Penrith as part of his Mannor of Ale, All tho’ it may be proved by living Witnesses that he has rid a Boundary and left that part out & there is not only that reason to be given for its belonging to the Derwentwater Estate but some of the Tennts & Freeholders within the Manour of Alston have & doe to this day cast Turbary within the disputed ground wch are we think convincing proofs of its being the right of the Hospital.  This Sir we desire you will lay before the Board for their Consideration, & also that you will acquaint them that their Vein is hopefull & may be of a very great Consequence

	Since we gave you the last Accot of wh Steps we had taken for making a discovery by what power Mr Alderman Ramsey wrougt Tarret Burn Lead mine we have been in expectation of being Informed of Something Material from Mr Blacketts Agents who we at last find can give us no Information at all.  So that unless some light can be had into the Affair by looking into Inquisitions post Mortem or from the Family Title Deeds, we doubt it will be in Vain to Attempt a Dispute in Law

	The Severall presentments at the Courts held in Octor 1726, not being <Leveyed>, has been no Small trouble in the holding the last Courts, & realy is Such an encouragemt to all Ill designed men that many of the Tennts are not to be kept from Committing Trespass & <that all> the want of the Tennts Leases makes the management very Troublesome.  We therefore begg the Directors will give orders to their Courtkeepers, that all Lawfull means may be used for Maintaining the rights & Jurisdictions of their Courts & we begg the Directors will order all the dispatch that’s possible in getting us the Tennts Leases

	In Obedience to the Boards Orders we have wrote Sevll Letters Letters to Mr Hodgshon of Tynehead demanding the paymt of Tythe which he has neglected to pay the Hospitals Tennts at Lowbyre in Alston Moor to wch he does not give us any answer & to Show his ill-intentions, he has lately put one of his Tennts upon taking by Force a Cow from one John Furnace who Legally bougt the Same, after She had been Seized for an Action of Debt recovered in Alston Court  Mr Hodgshons Tennt has Since disposed of the Cow and being a beggar Furnace has not the Oppertunity of doing himself Justice therefore humbly begg the Directors will be Pleased to order him some relief in it he is a poor man & would we think be Satisfyed with 25 or 30s in Consideration of his loss we have ordered Mr Simpson Courtkeeper to write Mr Hodgshon abt his Tythes & to Threaten him wth a prosecution.

	This day we have Sent Mr Wood Dep Treasurer Bills Value £1000 for the use of the Hospital & are Sir                                   Your most Obedt Hume Serts

                                                                                   Walton & Boag



[Enclosed Report]



Inclosed 4th Novr 1737 William Corbett Esqr



	We whose names are hereunto Subscribed haveing duely Consider’d the Boards Order of the 19th of October Inst relating to hushing Longcleugh, Middlecleugh & Capelcleugh Mines in the Manner of Alston Moor & having Particularly Viewed & Inspected the Situation thereof, we find the same to be distant from any of the present working Shafts, or Levells proceeding to any mines at least halfe a Mile; & from any of the Inclosed Lands about a mile, lying at Nenthead in the Extream part of the moor.  That those mines have been wrougt many years agoe & are now ruinous & not likely to be wrougt unless in the Winning thereof, they are first proceeded to by hushing, which are of Opinion may be done without the least damage, either to mines or Inclosures, nay in all probability may be of great Advantage to the Hospital.  Writing our hands the Twenty Seventh day of October 1737

                                                       Nichs Walton  Recrs

                                                       Hugh Boag

                                                       Jno Stephenson  moor maer