Letter – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont to Diana Beaumont – 31 Oct 1819

								Dissington Hall. Oct. 31. 1819

My dear Mother,

      I have received from Fenwick, to whom it was sent by Mr. Pearson, the heads of the agreement as proposed by Hodson - There is hardly a clause in it which is not liable to an objection, or which will not require an explanation – I have referred that part of it which regards the land to Thomas, & that which respects the forms of law to Fenwick; When I have their answers & seen them both at Newcastle, which I propose doing on Friday next, Fenwick will have occasion to write to Mr. Bridges, Hodsons solicitor, in London – He has shown in the agreement an anxiety to obtain every possible advantage, but in his letters he seems conscious of the attempt, and assures me of his desire not to do anything unusual; so that there will probably be some difficulty, but with care I think we shall have our own way at last.  

      Hodson proposes that 60,000£ including Mr. <Puseys> mortgage of 12,000£ which will expire in three years, should be left on mortgage – the remainder of the money to be paid upon the 12th of May, when we are to be part into possession. He has entirely given up the idea of having it completed in next Month

      In case he succeeds in giving us full & legal possession at that time would it be convenient to you to advance so large a part of the purchase money – The funds are in a most melancholy condition at this moment, but it is to be hoped that they will <rise> considerably upon the Spring – I will bring the agreement with me to Bretton, for it will be some time before the necessary information can be obtained from Thomas respecting the <farms> in signing it –

      I saw Hutchinson today, who requested me to drop the prosecution of his Brothers if they returned from America & offered me a bond of 100£ for each of them for their future good conduct, which of course I accepted –

      We will have some further conversation respecting <Dytch> when I come to Bretton – I am very far from being anxious to keep him if he can procure a decent livelihood elsewhere. 

I have your letter of the 24th before me, & will take an opportunity, if possible, of enquiring how your <Account> is kept with Reeds, before I leave the County –

      I was rather astonished to see Worthington’s salary stated at 360£ besides his other perquisites, & gave permission for him to <manage> Sir J. Cradocks <now> I suppose L[or]d Howden’s estates. A very radical reform, I should think, was necessary there - 

      I have sent you a <Cask of Grey> 2 Moorcocks, 6 couple of snipes & 2 p. of Partridges. <Mr W. Lee> will I hope have sent you some <grouse> -

	I am going to Allenheads tomorrow as soon as it is light, and if it is fine, I shall breakfast at the Hermitage - <We> had a meeting of the Deputy Lieut[enan]ts & Magist[ra]tes at the Castle on Friday & came to some very <moderate> resolutions, unanimously passed – Both Whigs & Tories, Dukes & Anti-Dukes were present –

      With best love to my Father & Sisters

      I am my Dear Mother Your very aff[ectiona]te Son

      TW Beaumont



P.S. I had nearly forgot to mention that the Son of Mrs. Thompson the present rector of <Warden> is very far indeed from being a respectable Man.



[addressed to:] Mrs Beaumont, Bretton Hall, Wakefield