Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Radley – 8 Jan 1740

      Rav. Castle  8 January 1739/40

To Mr William Radley



Sir

	We reced. yours of the 27 Ult on the 6 Jan at our Return from a West Country Journey, where we had been rec. some of the D[erwentwat]er Rents & settling several things with the Ten.ts upon the Estate.

	We also reced. your former writt abt. a fortnight agoe, both which Intimated to us what is required abt. Numbring the Trees in the D[erwentwat]er woods that was valued in 1737 in order for Sale, & Assoon as we reced. the first, we sent for the Persons formerly Concern’d & ordered them to go & Inspect the several woods, & consider what the Exp<ence> would be, & in what time they woud Number Each Tree; & they Return’d with their Answer but yesterday, which was that it would take 3 months time to doe the worke with the same hands & that it will not cost less than about £80. Now if so, we apprehend that there will not be time for advertizing for sale, before the season of falling this year, besides there is now in this Country a very Deep snow, with a hard Frost, that its Impossible for any man to Travell into the Woods; or if he should gett to the Wood to stand to number Trees, & it is likely to Continue some time; Indeed we think Dilston wood which is the oldest & nearest the markett, as also Thornbrough Wood might be gott Numbred this year in time to advertize for sale, if the Weather should prove favourable & is we think as much nay more than this place will consume or take of in one Year for there is Considerable falls of wood in this Neighbourhood at present.

	We reced the 54 Leases & Counterp.ts safe, & there is some of them Executed & the Remain.g pt will be executed in abt 10 days time, The Carryer took £2.2.6 for the Carriage of them, nay would not deliver them without the Money, was their any bargain made with him at the Delivery. There always should or Else they Impose. We shall waite your further Orders before we proceed to doe anything about the Numbring the Trees. & are wishing you the Compliments of the Season

      Sr Your most Humb. Servts

N. Walton H Boag