Letter – William Radley to Matthew Milburn – 9 Dec 1738

To Mr Matthew Milburn at High Green in Wark Manour

The original sent the 16th Dec 1738



Mr Milbourn

      The Comm[issioner]s of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich having had several Complaints of several Trespasses & Violences by you & your Accomplices Committed and of great damage thereby done to the Colliery called Tarret Burn of highgreen & Blackburn in the parish of Simonburn in Northumberland, now in the possession of & worked by James Dodds of Smiddiwell Rigg & of several persons being threatned obstructed & Ill Intreated who have fetched Coales from th pitts there, in order to prevent Mr Dodds disposing of his Coales or having any benefits from the same; which in the Consequence is a great Setriment to the Comm[issioner]s of the Hospital who are Intitled to the profits of these collierys by act of Parliament and have Ordered me to Acquaint you that they will Direct you to be severely prosecuted for the Injurys and wrongs by you already done, if you doe not Immediately after this Notice forbear to Commit any others and permit Mr Dodds to worke the said Collierys quietly & without any Interrupcon for the Future.

	If any Detriments is done to you by keeping you out of any Rights or Interests you legally have or Claim in these collierys it would be more agreeable to Represent it in a proper manner to the Comm[issoner]s of the Hospital who would consider it with as much Equality and Justice as is possible, and if it should appear you had any Legall Rights or Colour of Rights therein would I dare answer for them adjust the Difference in an amiable way or put it in [….] to be tryed at law or otherwise as Councill shall advise. But the Methods you practise (as the Commrs are Informed and by good proof  I do not doubt will appear to be too true) are Certainly very unjustifyable the Law abhorring [force] and hope you from the many ill consequences that attend it will dislike and forbear doing any violences hereafter and if you have any Claim in Law you will prosecute it in such a manner, as it may be determined by the Law of the Land, & cease doing any unwarrantable acts of force or wrong for the future.  

      Your most Hble Servant

      Wm Radley



Decembr 9th 1738 Greenwich



A True Copy  / Witness A Morrison