Journal entry – John Grey – 22 Mar 1834

Saturday 22nd March



Rode from Lambton to Newcastle, expecting to find Mr Foster there & to have some conversation with him, but did not meet with him.  I heard of another Viewer there, exceedingly likely for our purpose, but he is employed in a Colliery in which I suspect some connections of Major Johnson are concerned, & should that be the case, however respectable the person may be, as he will be expected to inspect the Workings at Scremerston, it is better to avoid the possibility of any bias from that quarter.  At the Market today, the price of Corn & Coals is equally complained of.  And among failures & dividends, the fact is talked of, of Lord Londonderry having made an Assignment of the Estates & Collieries in the County of Durham, to Trustees, with the intention of returning to his own Country.  I enquired of Mr Fenwick if he knew anything of Alfred Hall’s Bills, but he had never heard of them.  I then informed Mr Batson, one of the assignees , that Mr Hooper had had them but that they had not yet been found, and that as they held my undertaking for their production when discovered, & my Signature to the Deed they would incur no risk, as they might be well aware that the Bills would not go into other hands.  He expressed himself perfectly satisfied with my undertaking, though the Bills should never be produced.  I apprehend that Mr Bicknell would get them at the time he issued the Extent.  Leaving Newcastle I came to Throckley where the planting as well as fencing the Plantations is now finished.  The Miller here complained, as all the Tenants do, of bad times & hard bargains, wanting relief.  I compromised with him for the present, by engaging to make a piece of Hedge, which will include a small bit of waste land in his Garden, & substitute a new Hedge for a very bad one.  The cost will not exceed two Pounds.