Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 2 Nov 1739

      Ravensworth Castle  November 2d. 1739

To W Corbett Esqr.



Sir

      We recd. yours of the 18th October last with the Boards Minutes of the 17 of the same which wou’d have been answ[e]rd Sooner had we not been abroade receiving the rents and arrears of Derw[entwate]r  Estate & holding Courts at Newlands Haydon bridge & Wark which prevented us.

      In Obedience to the boards Command, we send you Inclosed The form of a Tacknote, as they were formerly Granted by the Derwentwater Family. & as to the terms & Conditions of granting tacknotes, they are always Such as Subject the Adventurour to enter into a Leas Under Such Covenants as are Usual in Leadmine Leases. that is Such Covenants as are in Leases granted within the manour of Lordship wherein the Sd. Leadmines lye. so that as the directors have been well advised in the Settling the lease granted Geo. Liddell Esqr. we apprehend All Tacknotes must Subject every one to whom any shall be granted to Enter into a Lease under the Same Covenants.

      When an Adventurer makes a discovery of a new vein or when he Judges any piece of ground likely to have a vein in it altho’ no real vein is known of in that part where tryal is to be made, he applys  

to the Lord of the Man[o]r or his Agent for a Tacknote, & offers a Certain Duty, which if the Lord or his Agent Agrees to then he names the vein or piece of ground where he Intends to make Tryal, upon which a tacknote is granted in the Usual Forme to Containe 1200 yards in Length & 40 Yards on Each Side of the veines provided the same does not Interfere with any Lease or former grant of any other Lead Mine.

      We Observe that Mr Radley is Ordered to State a proper Case in Relation to the destresses that have been made for the Amercements in the Mannour of Wark and other Mannours in the Derwentwater Estate, & to lay the Same before the Attorney General for his oppinion, and as we apprehend those amercements  having been Made will bring the right of the Hospital  to be disputed, we took  Several Affadavitts at the Court held at Wark in relation thereto & there is Several others which we have Order’d to be done which Will be material Evidences. The Grand Jury at Haydonbridge have likewise presented the Leasers under Mr Blackett for working in high Stublick Colliery within the Derwentwater Estate.

      We Sent to Mr Wood Deputy Treasurer of his Majestys Royal Hospital the 20 [Ulto] Bills for £1100 - and this day we have sent him One Bill for £1000  more On Accot. of the Rents of the Derwentwater Estate & we are

      Sr Yr most Obed.  Servts

      Nich. Walton  Hugh Boag



Coppy of a Tacknote sent herewith. See the Old Letter Book page 34