Letter – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 14 Jul 1752

To Mr Richd. Horne                                             	Ravensworth Castle  July 14 th 1752



Sir                  

      We have this Day recd. your Letter with the Boards Minutes of the 11th Inst. in which we observe the Board have sold the Dues of Lead Ore at 55s/ per Bing for Bouse and 50s/ per Bing for Cutting Ore to the Governor and Company for Smelting down Lead etc on their Proposal of the 2nd Inst.  The Board were pleased by their Minutes of the 20th June last to direct that the Dues of Lead Ore should be sold to Mr John Smith at 50s/. per Bing, for Bouse Ore and 45s/.. per Bing for Cutting Ore if no better price could be got and as we had no Proposal from any body else we had a meeting with Mr Smith the 4th Inst. and agreed with him at 52s/.. per Bing for Bouse and 41s/.. per Bing for Cutting Ore which was the best Price we could gett. We are extremely sorry if this Agreement we made should clash with what the Board has done, but we think as the Governor and Company’s Proposal was made on the 2nd and Mr Smith’s second Proposal was not made to us before the 4th it ought not however be that as it will we did our best and to the utmost of our power for the Interest of the Hospital.  This extraordinary Price which the Governor and Company has agreed to give must be owing to an apprehension they have had, that the Earl of Carlisle was a Bidder. 

      The Dean and Chapter of Carlisle upon a Remonstrance we made in answer to their proposal to Mr Simpson agree to accept of £192.10.., for the Fine on renewing Dilston and Lorbottle Tythes.  But they insist that the Leases shall be immediately granted or they must come to a new Agreement for the Fine.   And this new Agreement they have given us to understand must be reckoning a Lapse of 12 years or 3 years Value for a Fine.  Mr Simpson has therefore agreed that the new Leases be immediately made out and sealed; which is accordingly done but still subject to the approbation of the Board.  The Inclosed is a Draught of the Leases which we apprehend is the same as those granted to us, but lest there should be any alteration, the whole is subject to the Boards approbation.  The Leases to us were exhibited on Sir John Webb’s Commission and must be in Mr Everest’s hand, or in the hands of the Executors of Mr Radley, which we wrote to you about before, and may be probably sent down before this comes to your hand; if not you will compare the Draught with them; and unless there is any material difference between them and the Draught, we advise that no alteration be made as we are of opinion the present Agreement is the best that will be got. The Dean and Chapter desire a Copy of the Order on the dismission of Sir John Webb’s Bill.  The Leases to us must be surrendered and an application must be made for a renewal all which should be hastened or the whole will stop.

      We are Sir  

      Yours etc N Walton & H Boag