Letter – Ralph Heron to John Bell – 17 Feb 1792

Dear Sir

	I arrived Yesterday in the Mail Coach, and as I made no Halt on the Road I was consequently up two Nights - you may believe that I am much fatigued - I have drawn the Petition and have sent it to Mr Wilson for his Approbation and you may depend upon having it in due time for the Meeting, I will lose no time in preparing the Consent Bill, but before it goes to Mr Wilson I must go through it with you and Mr Ruddock for which purpose I will either take a Ride to Hexham or be glad to see you about a fortnight hence or sooner for I hope the ensuing week will do much I shall start on Sunday having already laid all the documents before me.

	It will be necessary to have a List of the Names of the several Persons having Right of Common with an Estimate of the Value of their Estates respively whereby it may appear that a sufficient proportion , to wit, 3/4ths sign the Consent Bill the 3/4ths is in value not Number.  the Lord of the Manor for his Estates must be included in this List - reputed Value is sufficient

	Mr Wm Bell must be thinking of getting ready for his Journey to prove the Notices etc - the Signing the Consent Bill will be a troublesome Business, every proprietor ought to be applied to unless in Cases where the Value is small & the Residence remote, in which Case Letters must be wrote desiring their Approbation generally to a Division, - if William has not a Friend’s house to stay at I will provide him with comfortable Lodgings, but if he has the former it will be an Advantage to him in many Ways, and as reasonable Expence must be allowed no Matter where he Lodges.  the Allowance must be the same, - Mr Thomas must be called upon on our Way to London to get his Name to the Bill you will direct a Space to the left for his Name to the petition - and I will send a person over to Bretton to get it signed as soon as you return it to me - the Sessions of parliamt I fear will be so short, that we must set off the instant the Consent Bill is ready - in any plan adopted for raising Money - that is now immediately necessary

                                          Yrs truely         Ralph Heron

                                                                Friday 17th Feb 1792