Letter – Charles Busby to Anna Radcliffe – 17 Apr 1721

Madam 							Aprill the 17th 1721 



	Being att Capheaton two Days since, was y'n told by Mr. Errington of your Honors Intentions of allowing 3 Tun of Timber towards Repaire of the Smellting Mill att Woodhall, which being given oute by Mr. Larance, and comeing to the Tennants Ears of Woodhall ffarme, he came over to me this Day and desired me to write to your Lad'p to putt a Stop to the same; Alleadgeing that when the Smellting Mill was going his ffather was then Tennant att Woodhall farme and reduced to meane Circumstances, by the great Losses, he yearely sustaind in his Corn, and Death of Cattle by the infection of the Grass occasioned f'm the Sulpherus Smoake of those Mills. Since that time his ffather -Dyeing and the Mills lyeing still, he tooke a Lease of the said ffarme of my late Lord for the Terme of 21 years, and by his Cear and Industry has brought that ffarme f'm being a verry bad one to be a good one; Capable of Considerable advance, when the Lease is Runn oute, which neither he nor any one else can not Afford, or even pay the present Rent, should those Mills be sett on ffoot againe. What further he has to Alleadge against it is, the Killing the young Spring of Wood, which since the lyeing in of the Mill is now verry hopefull ; and the Damadge twill do the Corn Mills in the Summer by Takeing away one 3d of the Water so heerby those Mills will often be forced to lye still. 

	To prevent all these Misfortunes, as well f'm my Lord as himselfe he proposes to your Honor y't if att Tuesday next when Lady Marys terme is expired, and those now concerned under her Lad'p have taken enoug Iron, and Lead in the Cuplos, to w'h latter they have no Manner of Right, he may have the putting downe of the remainder of those Mills, and the Liberty of Converting of the Wood and other things thereunto belonging, to his owne proper Use, he then in Six Months after, will pay your Honor One Hundred pounds for the same . and have a House standing in good and sufficient Repaire, for w'h he will f'm the time he enters on the Bargain pay forty Shillings p. an. and be oblidged to keep the same in Repaire till my Lord comes of Adge or for the term of 21 yeares. This is what he offers to your Honors Consideration as to which he desires your Lad'p answere unto. I am in all Humble Duty 

	If your Honor thinks proper to Imbrace this proposall Mr. Errington will agree the man is capable of performance Madam, Your Lad'ps Ever Most Obedient Humble Servant

	Charles Busby