Letter – William Darwin to Henry Richmond – 15 Mar 1762

Sir

      I have looked over my papers & don’t find that Sir Walter upon his entering upon His Receipt of the Rents and profits of the late Sir Wm. Blacketts Estate entered into any Agreement for renewing and keeping on foot all or any of the Leases, neither does it appear to me he was bound to do it either from the Will or other Decree, there being no Trust in the Will for such Renewals to be paid out of the Rents and profits.

      On the other side I send you a Copy of a Sketch of an Agreement that was prepared (or rather proposals for an Agreement) in Octor. 1751. A Copy whereof was sent by Mr. Denton to Sir Wr. Blackett on 10 Octor. 1751 from Pomfret where Mr. Denton then was, and I supposed, called there on Mr. Jos:aWilson about it and in consequence of which proposal a Draft of a Deed was prepared a Copy of whereof you had I sent you on the 8 of Feb 1752 & which I think you inquired about last year & that I wrote you word I believed was pritty certain the Deed was never carried into execution.

      The short Declaration on the other side I do <cinecquae> Sir Walter signed and sent Mr. Wilson for Mr. Wentworth and it is recited in the draft of the Deed above mentioned to bear date the 13 April 1748. & in the said draft of the Deed, It was thereby intended Sir Walter should covenant in cons[ideratio]n of the £10,000 proposed to be secured to his Exe[cuto]rs, Adm[inistrator]s or Ass[ignee]s that he should renew and keep on foot all the Leases – this confirms me that he was then under no obligation for that purpose, because if he had there would have been no occasion for any new provision of that sort – If you have not a Copy of the Draft of this intended Deed now by you I will send you a Copy of it.

      I think I sent you a Copy of the proposals on the other side when I wrote upon this Subject before & the paragraph (which is now explained, by finding the Dr[af]t of the above Declaration or Agreement) was then somewhat mysterious, but the above Declaration explains it & the Draft of the Deed explains the Declaration (tho it seems apparent & clear of itself) that Sir Walter was not nor is not bound thereby to keep the Leases on foot, only that such as were renewed should be considered as part of the Trust Estate.

      Inclosed you copy of the expences that have occurred here relating to Kirkheaton.

      I am Sir  Your most hble. Servt.

      Wm. A. Darwin



Grays Inn 16 March 1762