Letter Edward Ferrar, Esq., to: Thomas Brand, Esq., at the Hoo, nr. Welwin, Herts.

Re. the Conington Estate of the late Sir John Cotton, of which Brand is a prospective purchaser. Ferrars has procured a rental of the estate, with the selling price, from the Rev. Mr. Brett, the country agent, who says that only the odd £62 will be abated, & expects to get the price. Ferrar reports that there is some timber on the estate & very few buildings. It is well tenanted & has some fine spinneys of wyches & plantations of willows, about 7a. which cost Sir John £50 to plant last year for hedging wood. Outgoings are Composition, Land Tax - £195.7.6d. p.a. for the estate in possession & £12 p.a. for the revertion; Adventurers Tax + £2.0.6d. Hopes that Brand will not be too put off by the high price - almost the same given 4 years ago, for an estate of Sir John Cotton of £600 p.a., in far less good condition. Points out the objection that no allowance has been made in the calculation of the purchase price for the Composition Tythes, which are a perpetual burden on the estate & which he has never known charged to a purchaser before. Asks for further directions.