Letter – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 3 Nov 1752

To Mr Richd. Horne                               	Ravensworth Castle Novemr. 3rd 1752



Sir  

      You will receive by this post under one Cover the Report Mr Ride made after his View of the Derwentwater Woods without Answers to each Article, and under that which covers this you will receive an Account of all the Proposals which have come to our hands for Lead Mines and Farms.

      In regard to our Answers to Mr Rides report we do not in any material point disagree with him in opinion, it is principally as to the care of the young Spring Woods and that is entirely owing to the cold situation in which most of these Springs are.  Upon the whole we hope it will appear to the Board we have not been wanting in our duty in taking the necessary care of the Woods; and we beg you will assure them it shall be our constant care and endeavour to pursue their directions in doing what is in our power for the interest of the Estate. And as it will be proper for this Winter to hedge off some parts of the young Springs particularly at Keswick the sooner we have the Boards Commands the better.  We have given you the Account of the several Farms as particularly as we can, the number of Acres the present Rent, the several Biddings and a Computation of the value of each Farm per Annum and in the last column is the best Bidders, to whom we advise the several Mines and Farms to be confirmed unless you have better offers.  It is probable we have shall have some Offers in London as some People have told us they would make Proposals who have not yet done it.  Mr Martyr says he wants some Farming as a Convenience for keeping Teams for leading his Wood but he has not made to us any Proposal.  You will observe John and William Todd and James Forster have each offered £46 for East Deanraw the former we think the better Bidder as having done it first, vizt. Upon the 17th and the latter not till the 21st October.  John Robson for part of Middle Deanraw for the same reason.  Henry Maughan we think deserves a preference as having been the present Tenant of the Lough and very able  And William Leadbitter we think the best Bidder as having offered first for Fourstones and being the heir of the old Tenant. These Observations we think proper to make and submit the whole to the Boards determination.   I am for Mr Boag and Self            

      Yours etc  N. W.