Enclosure letter From Francis Burton to Dr. Jenner 17 March 1758

Revd. Sir

Since I had the honour to write to you, I have had some discourse with a person well acquainted with Helmdon field, in order to qualify myself, in some degree for ye office you have been pleased to confer upon me, in relation to the Enclosure. Amongst other things, I was asking him about ye value of Yard Lands, & told him that I had been informed, one with another, they ran to about 8 pounds a yard Land; he said, that rule might hold pretty good in general, but that in respect of particular farms it was not to be depended upon; for some yard Lands were well worth 14 pounds a year & others not £7- 10s. And he happened to instance in Mr. Harriotts, whose freehold Land he said was worth a great deal more by the yard Land than his College was- Nay he said he had one half yard land free, which was worth any one whole yard Land that he held of the College. Now as I have estimated all of the College Yard Lands at 8 pounds a year, this observation renders that Estimate of less authority than I supposed it had, when I first transmitted it to you. But that is not ye principal thing that struck me. Had that Estimate been ever so exact (and I still think it is not very far from ye truth) The Enclosure will soon render it of little use; But there is one thing that I think of great consequence; How comes Mr. Harriotts free Land to be of so much better than his leasehold? This question I asked, & ye answer was, that there are very different degrees of Quality in the several Fields, & great Variety of Measure in ye Yard Lands, which I know is not at all unusual. But since ye Perpetuity of ye College Interest will be settled at ye allotments, and nothing can hereafter be recovered that is now given away, I dare say you will think it necessary to be satisfied that none of ye College Land is crept into the Tenants Freehold. I know Instances in other College Estates where it has so happened, and tho I believe really there is not an honester man living than Mr Harriot and tho I knew his very worthy good father to be a person of the same valuable character, yet Errors may have happened; or at least it will be a Satisfaction to see that none have happened, by examining the Terrier of the College Land. If you will please to order some of the oldest you have to be sent to me, and also to direct all your Tenants at Helmdon forthwith (upon ye occasion of the intended Enclosure) to make out New Terriers, and deliver them to me the better to enable me to take care of them & ye College interest, nothing shall be wanting on my part to do Justice to both. If any other method will be more agreeable to you I shall with the greatest pleasure receive your Commands. I am

Mrs Jackson’s land which I have valued at 8 pounds a yard land I am informed is let but for 7:10:0 but it is deemed very cheap at that rate.