Letter – Thomas Errington to Anna Radcliffe – 1 Mar 1722

Capheaton, March the 1st: 1721/2. 

May it please your Ladyshipe. 

	I haue Receiued your Ladyships letter of the 14 of last month, I was from this place when it came here, otherwise would haue writt Sooner I am Glad your Ladyshipe has Receiued the Leases, but I am Sorry to tell your Ladyshipe that I am Confident Seuerall that did Contract and take farmes will neuer Signe or Execute theire Leases, that woefull thing of South Sea, made Lands aduance soe high that there is Thousands of Tennants will be Ruined and broken by it, for Corne is very Cheap, and Catle Cheap, and noe Trade, or money Stirring that euerybody knowes not what to doe, the money that your Ladyshipe writes aboute said to be in Fenwick and Waters hands was but 340£ which is Returnd to mr. Radburne some time since, and last friday I paid them Sixteen Hundred and forty pounds to be Returnd to Mr. Radburne and they haue assured me they will send him Bills for Eight Hundred pounds of it this weeke, there is nether Annuity money or wood money in the 1640£ I beleaue Capt: Cotesworth is Sore Enough pinchd but if your Ladyshipe would haue me to accquaint him of the 30£ you mentione I shall doe it, he is very willing and Ready to Serue your Ladyshipe vpon all occassions, I thanke God I am prety well Recouered of my late Indisposition I humbly thanke your Ladyshipe for Inquireing after my health, in the account I gaue your Ladyshipe of the Aduance of Rents amongst the Rest there was meldon and meldon parke lett to Robert Twisle and Wm. Welden for 440£ pr ann for 14 yeares, but the first 3 yeares they were to pay but 400£ ayeare by Reason the grounds was much Run out by the late times, and it was Referrd to your Ladyshipe whether you woud take the 40£ ayeare for the first 3 yeares or not, I have Charged the 440£ pr ann. which they thinke is very hard vpon them, and if the 40J: ayeare is not abated for the first 3 years I am of an opinion they will leaue the farme, there is one Patrick Dauison a marchant in Hexham wants about 15£ from my Late Lord for Candles, he and some few more is for Petitioning my Lord Chancellor to haue their small debts paid, I told him I would write to your Ladyshipe aboute this matter, and desired he would have patience till I had your Ladyships answere, Admarill Delaval who is this Countrey Gent, and a member of Parliament for some Borrow, told me he would be very Ready to Serue your Ladyshipe in purchaseing both whenby Estate and the late Colls Estate, and desired to be Informed by Sr: John webb how and in what maner to proceed in that affaire, he has an Extrodinary good Intrest at Court, and vast Rich, and a good Intrest with the Comissionrs of the forfeited Estates, there has lately been one mr. Allan sent downe from London by the said Comissionrs to Inspect and veiwe the said late Coll: Radclyffes Estate and to make a Report aboue thereof, mr. T: was with him and one or two more when the said Estate was veiwed, and which veiwe is very moderate, I haue preuailed with mr. T: to gett a Coppy of the said Report, and which I haue this post sent to mr. Radburne, I am senseable theire may be gott at least flue or Six Thousand pounds nay if not Ten, by Buying those Estates, I cannot as yett tell, whether I shall be Excused or not in Appeareing at London, mr. Radburne writt me mr. Pigott was in hopes to gett me Excused, your Ladyshipes last letter home, was directed to mr. Radburne and he sent it open Inclosed to me in his, but that was onely your Ladyships mistake, mr. Busby has had a somonse from the Comissionrs to appeare at London, for Cutting some wood at whenby when he was last there, to Repaire some houses, but I thinke that will blow ouer, howeuer there was one Johnathan Maughen went over to whenby and discharged all the Tennants from paying any more Rents to mr. Busby, whether this was by the Comissionrs order or not I cannot tell, Since I euer knew Aldston moore I neuer knew for fifty yeares past the Dues of Lead oare soe litle value, for the whole yeares dues of oare from December 1720 till December 1721 came but to 247 £ 15s: OOd: which God knowes is but a mallancolly story, all this famally are well and giues theirn humble seruice to your Ladyshipe and famally, I liaue paid the Lady Mary Radclyffe at Durham one yeares Intrest due 21 of October last 1721 soe that there is but halfe a yeare due to her Ladyshipe the 21 of Aprill next 1722. I heare that mr. Geo: Errington at London and his partners in Aldston moore pays but halfe payes in steed of whole ones, 

I am, yor Ladyshipe* obedient serut, Tho: Errington. 



For The Right Hono ble the Countesse of Darwentwater