Letter – Edward Blackett to James Mewburn – 7 Dec 1714

James  									Newby

      your inclosed letter from the <Tenth> surprized me very much I shall not be willing to allow yr £20 which is the sum you know I paid Sr Jo for the tyth, I believe the tents  may never live to see so plentiful a year for Corn at Seaton Deleval as the last year was so they either shall take the sum or take ther own course I shall allow no more, so besure that who Ever refuses to pay the rent in fulll distreant for the Law will allow thm no more tyth thn wt I paid Sr John which is 10th more thn he pays for it to the D of Somerset  I wonder very much that the tenant of Lysdon should think much to pay £16.0 p[er] ann for that farme which was formerley old and young Sr Ralph’s time lett at £200 p[er] ann to old Tho hyndmarsh and he would never suffer his Cattle to leed Coals but imploy thm wholely in manageing his Ground, & it’s very well know when he dy’d amongst his Children a very Considerable Estate I think most of the Tenants are Senceless and dos not know when they may have good farmes and are well used I am well informed you may advance Every farme in the lordship, so it is a great shame that it should be so under lett I hope you’ll take care in a little time to manage that Lordship much beter to my advantage thn formerly it has been I wonder you should be so long in receiveing Seaton rents for I do not know how soon I shall have an order to send for you to swear to wt you have received their Dividend of These Tenants that are refractory in take<ing> £20 in lue of their tyth let me know there names and they shall the first tenants that shall be turn’s of the<ir> farmes

      I am yo friend



the bills you sent me are of too long a’date had much rather have the mony sent over