Letter – Arthur Mowbray to Shute Barrington – 14 Dec 1797

My Lord,

      I duly received your Lordship’s Favor of the 6th Inst._ I have taken a Copy of Mr. Bernard’s Letter and herewith I return it.

      The Proprietor of Lands in Weardale have had a Meeting at Chapel last Week (it was by Advertisement in the Newcastle Chronicle which I did not see) to take into Consideration the Propriety of applying for a Division, Mr Scruton an Attorney in Durham who has an Estate in Weardale told me he was desired by several other Proprietors to attend, and asked me to be present. I told him that I thought the Proprietors had better be to themselves, and if they desired, I would give them a Meeting any time afterwards.

      I also hinted to Mr. Scruton as to the Schools & Chapels; The Meeting terminated as I would have wished a Committee is fixed and they desire my Attendance at the next Meeting which I have promised any Day after the next Week (I enclose Scruton’s Letter);

      In a Conversation Yesterday Morning with him, he said that he found that any Acre Money in the stinted Pastures would do the Business up: the Proprietors seem fixed and determined not to pay for them; to this I answered that I conceived it would be the best in Case any difference of Opinion arose on this Head, that a Case should be drawn up and referred to the Attorney & Sol[icito]r General, to this he said he could see no objection, and would give the Proprietors that hint; Mr Bernard’s Letter is very clear and full; should anything more occur I’ll be obliged by being informed in the Course of the next Week, that I may attend the Meeting as much master of the Subject as possible.

      Any Hints as to a Compensation for Tithes would greatly accelerate the Work, should be glad to have your L[ordshi]p’s Sentiments, I see no great difficulty in drawing the Line.

      I do not know what to do as to Buddle, I can neither procure a Report as to Bedlington, nor has he Answered my Letters on the Subject, I have wrote four as pressing as I could; nor can I get any Answer as to the Agricultural Survey;_ what does your Lordship think, should I proceed? the <Collings/?Culleys> think this a very bad time in the Year for procuring drawings of Cattle, & they advise that it be delayed till May: I should like Buddle to come forward as he proposed, but if we are not more alert, there is no saying when we may finish,I should like to have the Drawings before I begin to write the Report;

      The £200 has been applied to the pay[men]t of Mr. <Tewes> half Years Interest, and to Mrs. Yeoman’s until the Time the principal was paid: I have about seven Pounds in Hand, but Lawson is to pay viz. £25 which I will do as soon as I know who receives for him.

      Last Week I got from Mr. Emm a very full Acct. of all the <vacant> Grants at Bedlington which I gave to Mr Castle and desired him particularly & expeditiously to compare them with the Books and to furnish me with a full Acct. so that those essential to your L[ordshi]p’s Interest in the Colliery may be granted to me, when this is done the whole may in one Deed be conveyed by me to your Lordship; these are the only Reasons that at present occur and I will put the Business in this way as fast forward as I can, if in the Mean Time I do not receive different directions from your Lordship.

      I am My Lord Your Lordship’s very much obliged & most obedt. hble. Servt.

      Arthur Mowbray



The Honble. & Rt. Revd. The Lord Bishop of Durham