The
Town
of
Newcastles
Answer
to
the
Proposals
above-mentioned
.
TO
the
First
,
it
is
answered
,
That
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
of
Newcastle
,
have
by
Prescription
the
Survey
and
Government
of
the
Port
and
River
there
;
which
Port
and
River
,
are
within
the
Bounds
and
Limits
of
the
Borough
of
Newcastle
.
And
the
said
Mayor
and
Burgesses
have
from
time
to
time
(
whereof
the
Memory
of
Man
runs
not
to
the
contrary
,
)
had
the
sole
Vending
of
all
Beer
and
Ale
sold
to
Ships
Trading
to
that
Port
:
And
this
is
,
in
effect
,
no
more
than
all
Corporations
by
Prescription
enjoy
,
That
none
shall
exercise
a
Trade
within
their
Corporation
,
but
the
Members
of
it
.
And
it
seems
to
be
as
reasonable
to
take
away
the
Priviledges
of
all
other
Corporations
,
as
to
take
away
this
:
And
besides
,
the
publick
is
no
way
injured
;
for
Ships
do
not
lose
their
Voyages
by
it
,
because
the
Ships
may
take
in
their
Beer
and
Ale
at
Sheilds
from
Newcastle
,
in
a
quarter
of
the
time
they
can
take
in
their
Coals
;
for
they
go
two
,
three
,
and
sometimes
four
Miles
above
Newcastle
for
their
Coals
.
And
this
very
Point
,
as
to
the
sole
vending
of
Beer
and
Ale
by
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
within
the
said
Port
,
has
been
lately
Tryed
in
his
Majesties
Court
of
Exchequer
,
and
found
by
a
substantial
Jury
for
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
,
and
a
Decree
thereupon
made
for
the
same
.
To
the
Second
,
it
is
Answered
,
That
it
is
lawful
in
that
Port
,
for
any
Ship-Master
to
use
his
own
Carpenter
;
and
if
the
Ship
be
in
distress
,
the
Master
may
use
any
Carpenters
whatsoever
at
Sheilds
:
and
besides
,
Care
is
taken
that
there
be
always
Carpenters
and
Pilots
that
are
Freemen
of
Newcastle
,
that
live
at
Sheilds
,
near
the
Mouth
of
the
Haven
,
to
serve
such
Masters
of
Ships
as
have
occasion
to
use
their
Services
there
,
and
that
at
Reasonable
Prices
,
lower
than
in
other
places
.
And
the
Mayor
of
Newcastle
may
regulate
the
Prices
,
if
unreasonable
Demands
be
made
;
and
it
is
a
great
Mistake
to
affirm
,
That
any
Ships
have
been
lost
in
that
Harbour
,
for
want
of
Carpenters
or
Pilots
,
and
the
same
cannot
be
proved
.
To
the
Third
,
the
Answer
is
,
That
Jarrowslike
is
no
fit
place
for
a
Shore
,
being
near
the
Mouth
of
the
Haven
,
because
the
unavoidable
fall
of
Ballast
would
make
a
Sand-Bed
,
which
would
hinder
Ships
to
pass
in
and
out
.
It
would
be
a
Nusance
to
have
a
Shore
there
,
there
being
no
Foundation
to
erect
a
Wall
for
a
Ballast-Key
.
And
it
would
be
further
inconvenient
,
the
Channel
of
the
River
being
Narrow
in
that
place
,
it
would
make
the
Currant
so
quick
,
that
no
Ships
could
lie
at
Anchor
there
,
or
Keels
come
to
cast
Coals
or
Ballast
there
.
And
it
would
hinder
the
passage
of
Ships
in
the
said
River
,
and
would
be
an
injury
to
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
to
make
an
Act
of
Parliament
to
erect
a
Shore
at
the
place
desired
;
for
they
do
prescribe
,
That
no
Shores
should
be
built
upon
that
River
without
their
Licence
;
if
this
were
not
the
River
had
been
long
since
blockt
up
,
and
it
were
impossible
to
prevent
Nusances
to
the
said
River
,
if
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
had
not
the
Survey
and
Government
of
it
:
For
every
Man
that
has
Land
upon
the
said
River
,
might
be
at
Liberty
to
build
into
the
River
as
far
as
they
please
.
This
Prescription
has
been
likewise
Tryed
at
Law
at
the
Bar
of
the
Court
of
Exchequer
,
and
found
for
the
Mayor
and
Burgesses
:
And
why
may
not
all
,
or
any
the
Franchises
of
all
other
Corporations
,
be
taken
away
by
Act
of
Parliament
as
well
as
this
?
And
there
is
no
inconvenience
to
Ships
that
Trade
to
that
Port
,
for
want
of
a
Shore
there
,
because
there
are
Shores
four
or
five
Miles
lower
than
Newcastle
,
seated
in
convenient
places
,
where
Ships
cast
their
ballast
,
and
take
in
their
Coals
without
danger
.
The
Mayor
and
Burgesses
being
Conservators
of
the
River
and
Port
of
Tine
,
(
a
place
of
great
Import
to
the
Kingdom
,
and
Nursery
of
Seamen
and
Navigation
)
and
having
an
ancient
Court
for
the
Government
and
Preservation
of
the
River
and
Port
,
do
never
give
leave
to
build
a
Ballast
Shore
,
until
the
place
be
viewed
by
a
Jury
of
Masters
of
the
Trinity-House
and
Pilots
,
and
they
upon
their
Oaths
give
a
Verdict
,
that
the
place
is
convenient
,
and
without
Prejudice
to
the
River
.
That
the
Expedients
proposed
,
will
not
in
any
sort
lessen
the
Price
of
Coals
;
for
the
same
Tide
that
will
carry
Ships
to
the
place
designed
for
a
Shore
,
will
carry
them
to
some
other
Shores
or
Wharfs
that
are
already
erected
.
And
the
same
Wind
that
will
carry
Ships
out
from
the
one
place
will
carry
them
out
from
the
other
.
And
the
Ballast
is
cast
out
upon
as
cheap
and
easy
terms
from
some
of
the
other
Shores
already
erected
,
as
it
can
possibly
be
from
the
other
place
designed
for
a
Shore
.
Besides
,
the
Charges
for
Lighters
to
bring
down
Coals
to
Ships
lying
at
Jarrowslike
,
will
be
greater
than
the
Rates
are
at
the
other
Shores
already
erected
upon
the
River
.
And
Lighters
which
bring
Coals
to
the
Ships
riding
at
Jarrowslike
,
will
not
be
able
in
great
Westerly
Winds
(
which
often
happen
)
to
go
up
again
to
fetch
more
Coals
to
Load
the
Ships
there
;
although
from
the
other
Shores
they
may
go
up
,
notwithstanding
the
greatness
of
the
Wind.
And
in
truth
this
is
but
a
design
for
some
particular
Mens
interest
,
(
upon
pretence
of
Publick
good
)
which
they
have
long
endeavoured
by
several
means
to
effect
at
the
Council-Board
,
and
at
Law
,
but
could
not
prevail
.
The
Reply
to
the
Answer
of
Newcastle
.
1.
THeir
Answer
to
the
first
Expedient
confesses
matter
of
Fact
to
be
what
is
complained
of
;
And
whether
it
be
a
reasonable
thing
for
any
Town
by
Prescription
only
,
to
hinder
all
persons
,
though
eight
or
ten
Miles
from
the
Town
from
selling
Beer
,
Ale
,
and
other
Provisions
to
Ships
,
is
left
to
the
Wisdom
of
Parliament
to
Judg
;
And
't
is
humbly
conceiv'd
most
proper
for
that
High
Court
to
Determine
,
since
by
their
own
Papers
they
say
no
Remedy
can
be
had
for
it
elsewhere
.
And
whereas
they
say
,
it
seems
as
reasonable
to
take
away
the
Priviledges
of
all
other
Corporations
,
as
this
;
We
joyn
Issue
upon
it
,
and
say
so
too
,
in
case
there
be
any
other
places
that
under
pretence
of
their
Priviledges
,
hinder
all
but
themselves
from
buying
or
selling
any
Commodities
(
especially
Victual
)
eight
or
ten
Miles
round
:
But
as
yet
no
other
such
place
is
known
;
When
't
is
,
it
may
be
complain'd
of
with
hopes
of
Redress
.
And
't
is
a
fallacy
to
say
't
is
no
Injury
to
the
Publick
,
because
Ships
go
two
,
three
,
or
four
Miles
above
Newcastle
for
Coales
:
possibly
some
small
Vessels
may
go
so
high
;
but
great
Ships
which
are
chiefly
intended
to
be
provided
for
in
this
Bill
,
will
not
willingly
venture
to
come
within
five
or
six
Miles
of
the
Town
.
2.
To
the
second
,
That
Ships
may
use
their
own
Carpenters
which
come
in
their
Ships
,
is
true
,
because
they
cannot
possibly
hinder
it
;
but
if
any
other
Carpenter
(
on
what
occasion
soever
)
that
lives
thereabouts
,
not
being
a
Freeman
of
Newcastle
presumes
to
help
any
Ship
in
Distress
,
he
will
certainly
be
imprisoned
and
arbitrarily
punished
for
it
,
as
several
have
been
.
And
't
is
no
mistake
to
say
that
some
Ships
have
been
lost
,
and
many
damaged
for
want
of
help
in
that
Port
,
which
hath
formerly
been
proved
upon
Oath
:
and
the
great
damage
that
Ships
come
to
by
restraining
Carpenters
and
Pilots
will
be
made
plainly
appear
when
it
comes
to
proof
;
and
all
Ship-Masters
and
Owners
hope
for
Redress
in
it
.
Whereas
they
say
,
that
Jarrowslike
is
no
fit
place
for
a
Ballast-shore
,
because
so
near
the
mouth
of
the
Haven
,
why
then
were
Ballast-shores
permitted
to
be
made
below
it
nearer
to
the
mouth
of
the
said
Haven
where
the
River
is
narrower
than
at
that
place
?
And
the
same
reason
that
they
give
against
this
Shoar
holds
,
and
is
more
against
any
other
Shoar
in
the
River
;
so
that
by
this
Argument
there
ought
to
be
none
at
all
for
the
unavoidable
fall
of
Ballast
into
the
River
will
be
more
in
other
places
than
here
:
For
when
Ships
throw
their
Ballast
out
into
Lighters
first
,
much
of
it
often
falls
into
the
River
,
and
the
rest
is
sometimes
at
Night
thrown
over-board
into
the
River
to
save
Carriage
up
to
the
Wharfs
by
Lighter-men
,
and
also
some
will
fall
out
as
it
is
unlading
there
:
Whereas
,
if
there
were
a
Ballast-shoar
at
Jarrowslike
,
great
Ships
might
the
first
Tide
come
up
to
the
side
of
it
and
unlade
their
Ballast
where
there
can
be
no
possible
fall
of
Ballast
into
the
River
,
but
what
falls
in
unlading
'twixt
the
Ships
and
the
Wharf
,
which
at
Low-water
may
and
will
be
easily
thrown
up
again
that
other
Ships
may
come
and
unlade
there
.
And
whereas
they
say
that
it
will
Choak
up
the
River
,
It
will
clear
it
of
the
Sand
which
continually
washeth
out
of
Jarrowslike
,
and
some
other
Sand
now
in
the
River
.
And
as
for
their
saying
there
can
be
no
Foundation
,
why
do
they
then
oppose
it
?
since
if
it
cannot
be
done
,
it
can
be
no
prejudice
to
them
.
And
it
will
not
at
all
alter
the
Current
of
the
River
at
times
of
Lading
and
Unlading
Ships
;
it
being
3
quarters
Ebb
before
the
Coal-Lighters
come
down
.
And
to
what
they
say
of
Westerly
Winds
hindring
Lighters
to
go
up
to
fetch
Coals
down
to
the
Ships
;
Surely
,
Lighters
that
are
Low-built
may
more
easily
go
up
for
Coals
than
Ships
which
are
much
Higher
and
have
Masts
.
And
the
Prescription
they
plead
against
any
of
this
,
(
though
't
is
believ'd
they
can
never
make
't
out
to
have
been
without
interruption
)
however
't
is
the
Grievance
desired
to
be
redress't
by
this
Bill
.
Whereas
't
is
Pretended
to
be
carried
on
for
Private
Interest
only
;
The
contrary
will
appear
by
reading
the
Reports
and
Reasons
of
the
Trinity
-
House
;
which
are
as
followeth
.
According
to
your
Majesties
Order
in
Council
bearing
date
August
the
5th
.
We
have
considered
of
the
Allegations
of
Sir
Charles
Adderly
Knight
,
and
John
Crook
Esquire
,
concerning
the
erecting
of
a
Ballast
Shore
at
Jarrowes-Slake
near
South
Shield
in
the
County
of
Duresme
;
And
do
humbly
make
our
Report
that
we
are
of
opinion
That
a
Ballast-Wharfe
at
South-Shields
will
be
of
great
use
and
benefit
to
all
Ships
Trading
in
the
River
Tine
for
Coals
,
for
these
Reasons
.
-
1ly
,
That
it
will
prevent
the
loss
of
Ships
in
their
coming
for
Tynmouth-Bar
,
for
that
they
have
and
do
at
this
day
cast
out
great
part
of
their
Ballast
before
they
come
to
the
Bar
,
so
to
avoid
the
great
charge
after
they
are
in
the
River
of
carrying
up
their
Ballast
in
Keels
to
Newcastle
,
after
which
meeting
with
foul
weather
they
have
many
times
been
Cast
away
by
reason
of
their
Lightness
.
-
2ly
,
It
will
be
a
means
to
Secure
great
Ships
from
the
Casualties
which
befall
them
;
by
their
coming
a
Ground
many
have
been
Lost
going
up
or
coming
down
the
River
,
at
Least
it
will
prevent
the
wronging
of
them
when
they
lie
on
hard
Ground
or
Rocks
,
going
to
or
coming
from
Newcastle
,
whereby
the
Ships
will
last
the
longer
;
and
it
will
also
give
them
a
much
quicker
dispatch
in
their
Voyages
.
-
3ly
,
It
will
be
an
Encouragement
for
men
to
build
great
Ships
for
that
Trade
such
as
may
be
useful
for
defence
of
the
Kingdom
in
time
of
War
,
and
much
more
proper
for
that
Trade
than
small
Vessels
.
-
4ly
,
That
the
Price
of
taking
out
the
Ballast
at
Sheilds
being
moderately
set
,
It
will
be
a
great
Incouragement
to
Navigation
,
for
that
the
price
of
taking
it
out
by
the
Town
of
Newcastle
is
very
high
.
-
5ly
,
That
by
means
hereof
Masters
of
Ships
may
make
two
or
three
Voyages
more
in
a
year
,
the
charge
of
taking
out
their
Ballast
being
Lessned
,
and
the
time
of
going
up
the
River
being
saved
and
their
Ships
hereby
the
better
preserved
,
and
being
great
Ships
most
proper
for
that
Trade
they
may
sell
Coals
much
cheaper
to
the
benefit
of
the
Publick
and
get
more
money
to
their
Owners
than
now
they
do
,
and
all
this
with
less
hazard
;
All
which
we
humbly
submit
to
your
Sacred
Majesties
most
prudent
Consideration
.
-
Thomas
Middleton
-
William
Wileey
-
Edward
Crispe
Deputy
Mr.
-
Henry
Shears
D.
Warden
,
-
Henry
Tederman
-
Wardens
.
-
John
Cox
-
Edward
Seaman