Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 14 Aug 1778

To John Ibbetson Esquire 					Farnacres 14th August 1778



Sir

      Mr Josh Hilton having been more backward in the delivery of his Reports for this Year than usual, we were very pressing upon him for them, & he still not producing them, it was thought immediately necessary that we should examine into & get them brought forward to Midsummer, and so great a Progress has been made herein, that the whole will be finished in a few Days.  Upon this Examination we find to our great Concern, that Mr Hilton is very much embarrassed in his circumstances & that this, notwithstanding his great Abilities which are much beyond any others in the Country or Neighbourhood where he lives, has had such an Effect upon his State of Mind as to have occasioned considerable Neglect & Imprudence in the Discharge of his Duty, but we hope this will not be the cause of any Loss to the Hospital in the Collection of the Duty Ore; tho’ there are two Instances where the Lessees have fallen considerably into Arrear, which are as follows.

                                                           Arrear

                                                       Bings  Cwt

Mr Jonathan Reay & Partners at Thortergill Syke &

  Thortergill Syke North Vein                            144  3 1/5

Messrs Hunter Naisbett & Partners At Thorngill West End   44  - 2/5



the former being in Value about £325 & the latter about £105. 

      It happens that Mr Reay & another of his Partners are now Bankrupt & as there seemed to be no way of securing the Hospital except by reentring, Mr Walton went into the Thortergill Syke Veins & took Possession thereof on Behalf of the Commissioners & Governors of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich in the County of Kent & it is not doubted that the

the Governor & Company will pay the Arrear in case the Hospital will grant them a Lease of those Veins, as the Works thereof are so connected with their Undertakings at Thortergill & Browngill that they would be greatly benefited by such a Grant.

	With regard to Thorngill West End, the Mine having been discontinued working for some time & not being reckoned of Value, nothing is to be expected by taking Possession of it, we shall therefore make immediate Application to Messrs Hunter Naisbett & Partners for the Amount of the Arrear & hope they will pay it, or otherwise it would seem proper to call upon them by some Process at Law.

      Under the above Circumstances with respect to Mr Hilton we thought it right to put a Stop to the Operations at Nent Force Level, which we have accordingly done, & shall again write to the Board upon this unfortunate Business as soon as Mr Hilton delivers an Account of his Debts which he is now preparing to lay before us.  We are Sir Your etc

      NW Junior J.C.T.