Journal entry – John Grey – 30 May 1835

Saturday 30th May



      Rose at six, walked beyond Alston to see the Mill Dam which the Miller stated to be in want of repair, but finding that the injury had arisen from carelessness in allowing the water to flow over the top in time of Flood, instead of by a side Sluice, I insisted upon his repairing it himself.  Settled accounts with the Moor Master & Solicitor, examined the state of the School, which is getting into bad repair.  The Governor & Co subscribe £25 and the Hospital £20, but many of the original subscribers of smaller sums, have fallen off. The number of Scholars is 120.  Directed an estimate of the necessary repairs to be made and sent to me, that I might lay it before the Board.  Examined the state of the Savings Banks funds & management - returned to the Inn & was applied to by various Parties of small Mining Adventurers detailing squabbles & disagreements which to repeat would fill several sheets.  These I try to reconcile as much as possible, but too often having the mortification to see them go away without feeling, or at least acknowledging, that justice has been done them.  

      The most important thing of this kind is the claim advanced by the Hudgill Burn Company to prevent the Nattrass North Vein proceedings.  I sent the correspondence on this subject to the Board some time ago & shall be glad to have it returned with their instructions. [marginal note: ‘postponed’]  The Hudgill Company made a proposal for a sweeping District , including this Vein called Nattrass North Vein and many others, but the reply of the Receivers  dated 8th February 1830, though indistinctly expressed, certainly does not in any way comply with that extensive request, but as I understand it, confines the grant to any Veins that may be discovered in driving the Level from Lovelady Shield Shaft to Hudgill Burn Cross Vein.  No important discovery having been made in prosecuting that Level, the Company seem inclined to lay claim to all they asked for, but which, in my opinion, it was not intended to grant and should not be granted.  If allowed to usurp the Nattrass Vein, they may in the same ground extend their claim to the prohibition of several other parties. If the Commissioners should coincide in this opinion, I should be glad to have their decided expression of it, that it may be conveyed to the Party and an end put to their applications and complaints.  It is not beneficial to the interests of the Hospital or the encouragement of Mining Speculation that that wealthy body should be allowed to usurp too large a portion of the Manor.  I think it right too, to inform the Board, that the Gallygill Syke Company are continuing their workings although the renewal of their Grant was postponed in consequence of the proceedings in Chancery between them and the Hudgill Company.  It is not a good precedent to allow them to go on, but so long as they work in compliance with the conditions of the Manor in other respects, it would be a pity to stop them, because it would be a loss of Ore to the Hospital.  The Suit in Chancery may last for a long time & if laid in, the Mine which is supported by a great quantity of Wood, must fall in and become more expensive to work at a future time.  

      Since the decision of the Board not to incur any further expense in protecting the Game in Gildersdale Forest, the proprietors have expressed a wish to be allowed to let it, chiefly with a view to the protection of their Sheep from disturbance by Poachers.  I send a Copy of Resolutions passed at a meeting on the subject, to which they wish to have the Boards consent.   Having been detained long at Alston, mounted and rode to Dilston without stopping.