Letter – Shute Barrington to Arthur Mowbray – 4 Oct 1797

Mowbray,

      From the statement which you have made to me of a proposed inclosure in Weardale, I conceive that it will a general benefit to the country, & an advantage individually to the proprietors of land within that extensive district. On these grounds therefore it has my entire approbation: As to the line between the parties interested, I wish you & them to consider it first among themselves, & to examine how it can be drawn most beneficially & fairly for all the parties concerned. In that or any other plan conformable to usual practice in similar cases I shall be ready to give my assent & assistance as far as I apprehend I can with propriety.

      I am &tc

      S.D.



Arthur Mowbray Esqre	Public





Mowbray,

      I have availed myself of my earliest leisure to consider the general statement which you made of the principal enclosure in Weardale & left with me on the eve of my departure from Auckland Castle. It has my approbation as expressed in my ostensible letter which accompanies this. But with that <confidence> to you to whom I hold that confidential language to which you are entitled from me, I must put some questions which you will answer at present.



1st. How many of the 70,000 acres of the open lands, as far as you can at present conjecture, will upon the principle laid down by you, be subject to an allotment of a 16th part to me: 2nd. How much of them is ring fenced with the stinting ascertained? 3rd. How much (remaining open & uninclosed) has been, from a certain number of years back, subject to a limited stint, & why as to these two last (& particularly the uninclosed part) am I to be excluded from any allotment as Lord? 4th. What will be (by conjecture) the annual average value per acre of the Land to be allotted? 5th. What are the respective proportions of Freeholds, Customary freeholds, copyholders & Leaseholds, & the calculated proportion of my interest as Lord in each of the three last tenures? 5th. What is the imagined value of Mines in Weardale compared with that of the soil?



      You will immediately see the object of these <questions> is to ascertain my interest in the premises; & whether any other outline can be proposed that will make the inclosure more profitable to the Proprietors, & at the same time better for me & my successors. 

      As I may have occasion to refer to your papers, & <……..> that you have a rough draught of them, I do not return them. 

      I am &tc

      S.D.



Private