Document 5, Letter from William Lowes, 11 April 1778, recipient not known, p 1
| ‘526’ [NCastle?] 11th April 1778 | ||||
| Dear Sir | ||||
| On my return from the Country last night I | ||||
| met with a Bill for Building a Stone Bridge across the River | ||||
| Tyne opposite the [T?]own of Hexham. I suppose it was | ||||
| sent me by [Mr?] [???]who is in Town solliciting this Bill | ||||
| but it was not [???] [carried?] with any Letter, [nor do?] I know | ||||
| how to direct, or [???] [him?] on this occasion. | ||||
| I am sorry to see [??] [??] without any reasons [r???d] in the Bill [and?] | ||||
| very absurd Order [???] last Xmas Sessions by Mr Aynsley | ||||
| Mr Trevelyan & [???] I think the other justices present | ||||
| with myself [??] [??] [??] [Names?] in the Bill | ||||
| by which it is ordd [???] Bridges within the s’d | ||||
| County shall be rebuilt [???] | ||||
| Grand Jury at the assize [???] [???] | ||||
| [???] or want of reparation [??] Bridge or Bridges | ||||
| When this order was made it was I must suppose not recollected | ||||
| that Featherstone Bridge and Ridley Hall Bridge both being | ||||
| acknowledged County Bridges were carried away by the flood | ||||
| in 1771 and were regularly presented by the Grand Jury at | ||||
| Morpeth Sessions as [broken down?] & out of repair and they | ||||
| are not excepted in this order: which (this only [???] in this Bill) | ||||
| may occasion great dispute in this County. The inclosed Clause will | ||||
| I think set all to rights so [??] you will on [rect?] of this go to | ||||
| Mr [French?] with my Complmnts & get from him a Bill; and [thereon?] | ||||
| [???] [??] wait upon Ld algernon Percy Sir Wm [?????] | ||||
| Sir Thos Clavering Sir [Mathew?] Ridley Sir [Jas?]Trevelyan & | ||||
| Sir [?Just?] Eden & request the favor of them to get this [Clause?] | ||||
| incorporated in the Bill before the Committee: you will soon explain it & | ||||
| the expediency of it, for it may obviate the doubt & cannot possibly | ||||
| be injurious to any body. If you are too late for the Commons | ||||
| wait upon the Duke of Northumberland make my best Compliments to | ||||
| his Grace & intreat him to get this Clause [???] by the Committee | ||||
| in the Hs of Lords. In great haste to [???] ye post I remain yours truly | ||||
| Wm Lowes | ||||
Note: Page badly torn and text missing
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Transcribed by CTW and TB