Letter – Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Walton – 27 Dec 1739

      Cockermouth 27 Dec. 1739

Worthy Sirs

	Yours of the 7th Inst. I reced., wherein you acquaint me of a Letter from the Secretary of Greenwich Hospitle, whereby you were Directed to give me an Accot. that after the Submission I had made to the Comm[ission]ers of Greenwich Hosp. they have thought fitt to drop the prosecution upon the Accot. of my paying for the wood & all Charges; To these Particulars I desire you woulod Acquaint Mr Secretary that I submitt myself intirely to the Honourable Comm[ission]ers Pleasure abt. the Cutting down the Birch & Alder &c & tho’ I don’t think fitt to Contest any thing of this kind with them, yet as this might have been a Disputed Right proceeding from the Constant Usage & Custom of the Ten[an]ts, I hope my early submission, will Induce them to a Milder Treatment. As to the Charges of a prosecution, I cannot apprehend how there should be a prosecution & I not know of it, however if there be any such thing, there surely can’t be much upon this accot. & its extreamly hard there should be any, since I submitted to them as early as I could; however, I pray Endeavour to Stop any proceedings of this kind , & I will pay them or their order, for what is done.

	My Farmer at Thornthwaite acquaints me that there is a barn wants Repairing; I have spoke to Mr Pearson the Bayliff, for some oak Timber, for Rafts, Overings & Rigging Trees to Repair the same, & have some for this purpose, The wood is Cutt Down but none of it as yet Remov’d from the premises, till your further order at the rent Court; I hope neither the Comm[ission]ers nor you will hinder The Tenants to cutt down such wood as is perfectly necessary for the Repaire of our Houses being what is usually granted upon due notice to all Tenants in England, so that this I hope  will not  be any way placed to my accot., since it is Designed for the use of the premisses; I shall not further dd to your trouble herein, than to desire your kind Intercession for me to the Secretary, & to send me an Accot. of Wood & Charges, if there beany as Speedily as you can; what favour you doe me herein shall be gratefully Acknowledged by 

      Worthy Sirs, Your most Obedt. & Humb. Servt

      Tho. Jefferson