Letter – Shute Barrington to Arthur Mowbray – 30 Oct 1797

      Mongewell Oct. 30th 1797

Mowbray,

Upon a leisurely consideration of your letter of the 9th Inst the division of the lands in Weardale (so far as your estimate can at present go in point of correctness) is as follows.

									

                    acres

Inclosed Land       10,000

Inclosed Pastures    2,000

Lim[ite]d Stint     33,400

Stinted in Common   25,000

                    70,400



and the division of <tenures> as to the inclosed Land as follows



                     acres

Freehold               500

Copyhold               600

Customary freehold    5000	

Leasehold             5900

                     12000



      I do not state these as precise numbers, but for the purpose of enquiring whether I understand your last letter right, and of explaining my ideas on the subject in the course of this letter.

      1st. As to the question of my having any allotment out of the limited stint.

      I conceive the question will depend a good deal on the fact whether this is held in exclusive severalty? If not, if it be in common, the freehold of the soil, as Mr Bernard thinks, is still in the Lord; and it cannot be inclosed without his concurrence; and then upon the usual principles of enclosures, the Lord must have an Allotment, though not a 16th, at least a 20th or 24th. 		

      2nd. As to the general objects of the inclosure.  With me these are two. The first, the general improvement and benefit of the Country; second, the securing a reasonable and just benefit upon the inclosure to the See of Durham. With a view to the first, I wish you thoroughly to consider whether the leasehold Estates held under me are sufficiently permanent to encourage the improvement of the allotments; and if not, whether there is anything I can properly do, to give a permanence of interest to a spirited and active improvement of the property.   3rd. As to a provision for Chapels, Minister’s Homes, Maintenance of Schools &tc, I wish you to weigh yourself, and having weighed to suggest to the Proprietors whether in so very large a Parish some specific provision should not be made by the Act for erecting and supporting at least two Chapels, and for a free school; and whether this can be better done than by an Allotment to Trustees, for these and any other similar purposes in promoting of religion, Morality and industry within the parish of Stanhope.

      If I can do it with strict propriety and the Proprietors will agree that an allotment be made of the 16th of the limited Stint, I shall be desirous, as far as I properly can, of waiving my Claim in that respect. That 16th will I apprehend be about 2000 Acres.

      Upon the Mines and the other subjects of your letter I have no observations to make at present. You have not said what is proposed to be done about Tithes.

      I am  Yr

      SD



Arthur Mowbray Esqre