Letter – William Johnson to John Airey – 7 Jan 1742

       						(C) East End  Jan.ry 7. 1741

To Mr John Airey Attorney at Law In Newcastle



      I heard you were formerly Imployed Comiss[ioner] in the Affairs of the Derwentwater Estate, I therefore trouble you with this there being many & Harmfull Abuses Comitted upon that Estate, Sir it would be too tedious to give you here a particular Accot. of these but in short it is so that it is a saying with some persons that folk may Cutt what they will in those Woods or say they there is none takes any Notice of them for they have  ordered two men to Inspect these woods and lands the one a poor drunken fellow the other being Imployed for other mens business & his own so that he takes very little notice thus Sr the Comiss[ioners] or those Concerned in the management of that Estate is rendered Contemptable  & the Royall Hospitall Suffers great loss & Sr what I would have you doe is this to move the Comiss[ioners] of the Royal Hos[itall to Imploy a man that understands the way of Spunging, dussing and in the improving and valuing of Woods and on that lives & is acquainted in the Country where the said estate lyes & one that has good Intelligence of the Practice & knows the Wood Smugglers or els I woud not give a Straw for his Inspection. Sr if you question the truth of what is above written I need not take you farr to prove it, there is one Mr William Tate who lives near in Newcastle & iis Imployed in the Customs or Water Sargen[t] who has a acquaintance & knows these woods & lands of the Estate & can give you a more perfect Accot. of these than I can here give you and testifye the truth of what is here written likewise one Mr Robert Elderton who lives in Hexham & his father old Mr Elderton in the Flesh Market in Newcastle And one Wharton that lives near Ravensworth Castle with many more who can Testifye of the truth of these abuses but in short if there is not other Methods taken & that Speedily the winter Season being the time of the greatest abuse & more damage done you may expect the Ill management will be laid before the Government in its true Colur but hoping Sir you will use means to prevent it I ad no more , but Sir Your Hble Servt   

      Wm Johnson