Enclosure letter From Francis Burton to Revd Dr Jenner 13 Nov 1758

Revd Sir

I have the honour of yours of the 11th together with ye Warrant for Mr Weston’s Timber and beg leave, in answer to ye intimation you give of the fee that is due to your Servant, to acquaint you that almost two years ago I (at your Servants request) enquired of the Tenants what fee they had used to pay ye President’s Servant, they all agreed they never knew one demanded- Mrs Adcock said she had often heard her Husband say that the President’s Servant had mentioned it to him, but that he could never get it, though seemed to think it due. However my making these Enquiries raised a great murmuring among ye Tenants, and dissatisfaction much superior to ye Value of the thing in question. I had long wished to promote the scarcity of Timber upon your College Estates in this County, which I will venture to say (in that respect) are ye most desolate of any I know, and particularly encouraged poor Baldwin who is lately dead to plant Timber sets in his Hedges instead of Sycamores, Asbels, Willows etc (which the Tenants take at their pleasure everywhere I believe) & to him and others have been very moderate in my own fees in hopes thereby of inducing them to go on in the desired manner. I have lately proposed the same scheme to Mr Weston whose Estate would admit of great improvement therein, but his answer was rather cool. At Helmdon upon ye New Enclosure much good might be done by ye Tenants, at little expense, & I hope to succeed in persuading them to do what indeed will be for the Interest of their families as well as for ye future advantage of ye Society. But I beg your future Instructions whether under these circumstances it will be prudent to revive this demand. I cannot think it will be of any great value, for except Mr Watkins who will have occasion for a grant very speedily to repair his cottage and Mr Weston who next spring will want another for his Farm Ground and Mr Welchman (from whom ye Fee would come like drops of blood) I know of none but what must be very trifling that can be granted. I am afraid it would have a bad effect & occasion more of these Weed Trees being planted which are profitable enough for a little while to ye Tenants but will never benefit ye college, if you think otherwise, I will not fail to obey your Commands & demand yr fees. The Exchange of Lands at Helmdon is under the Act of Parliament by which all Proprietors (without exception) are enabled to exchange their old enclosure for new allotments or other lands with ye consent of ye commissioners and ye College (not being excepted) is unquestionably entitled to make this with Mr Samwell, which will certainly be for the advantage of both parties. I will write to Mr Thomas to send you an Act which I doubted not of his having before sent you – and wonder at his neglect. I am