..in looking at a couple of Ag Rev books this week, I discoverd that many "rents" were not at all like we have them today. Instead, people paid a lump sum (quite large) in advance, rented for a fixed time, and the annual and quarterly payments would be very small indeed. I've got no figures, I'm afraid- this arrangement was in relation to renting farms mostly, not estates.

The idea of "rack rent" - i.e. renting at a proportion of market value for the property, which is what we have today, was one of the outcomes of the Ag Rev, apparently.

If I'm right, then the Admiral would use a chunk of prize money as a downpayment, which would enable Sir Walter to pay off most of his debts at the time of the move. And it would make the locals doubly pleased to see the back of him!