Letter – John Bell to Diana Beaumont – 7 Jan 1825

[annotated at top of page:] Jan[uar]y 18th 1825 Copy of Mr Bell’s Letter to Mrs Beaumont



Madam,

	When I wrote to you last on the subject of Messrs. Claytons letter, I wrote to you in haste & to save that days Post that you might have the earliest account of what was going on. I omitted to mention that in all the searches I have had occasion to make in my time I never met with any presentment of the nature of that for which Messrs. Clayton propose to search and I never heard my late Father mention anything of the sort nor do I believe there exists any such entry on the Court Rolls, I rather incline to think your Right to work the Mines is founded if not upon a separate grant from the Crown quite distinct from the grant of the Manor upon long usage in the working of such Mines you are aware yourself of Mr Tulip who I believe to be at the bottom of the present proceeding of Renting & working St. John Lee Colliery in Acomb antient Inclosed Copyhold Lands, & his late Uncle before him also rented & wrought the same and I suspect for this reason Mr Tulip does not appear in the present matters but keeps in the back Ground, although his Ground is also injure’d, as well as Mr Nicholsons Ground by the present workings the Rubbish arising from which though wrought out of Mr Nicholsons Ground, is partly laid down on Mr Tulips.  Possibly it may be deemed proper to permit the search to be made which is required, even though nothing should be found one way or the other, but at the same time hint to the Parties that though the search be permitted, yet what they want to find they will be more likely to meet with among the Records of the Grants from the Crown – without telling them whether you have any such Grant or not, but all this you will maturely consider & be well advised in, I merely suggest for your Consideration, & shall not do anything without your express Direction or by order of some Competent authority which I may not legally resist.

      I am Madam  Your Obedient Servant

      Jno Bell



Manor Office Hexham 7th Jany. 1825



[annotated at top:] Copy of Mr J. Bell’s letter to Mrs Beaumont January 18th 1825