Letter – Diana Beaumont to John Erasmus Blackett – 12 Dec 1800

      Bretton December 12th 1800

Dear Sir,

      I am favor'd with yours of the 5th & am really sorry that you should have so much trouble about the House in Northum[berla]nd St[reet]. I gave the Post you sent to Mr Brown, as he was the person that took the charge of every thing in the House, & deliver'd them up to Mr Lewis., (Gen[era]l Balfour[']s Servant) & each of them signed the list that all was right except[in]g a very few things that were specified, he has now wrote to Lewis respecting them , & requested Mr T. Crawhall might copy the list,  the <Wind up Jack>  that is named in the list you sent, Brown says was not once used, it was so bad it was not possible, & the <Smokers Jack>, he says he paid a great deal to put it in repair to make it of use w[hic]h Sums he showed me in the Bills, this covering of <ye> Bed was not seen after Col. Bate's Housekeeper went away, but as it was in the list we enter'd on, our Servants should have taken care. she did not take things out of the House, it is only a trifle, & of course we must pay for it, the lamp & other things the Servants say were not broken for they did not on entering examine every crack in each article, the method you mention will be the best to have an indifferent Person to settle what ought to be done & what we should pay for the articles missing by the list signed by Brown & Lewis; we paid 18£ for the alteration of the Stable in the Croft; in any manner that you settle this we shall be satisfied & have done with Col. Bates, I am sorry for the credit of <ye> Army so Shabby a man should have belong'd to it.

      I enclose a receipt from Mr Deakin who you will have the goodness to send to Mr Bell, it is on account of Cattle sent here by Mr Bell.  Mr Bowns has this morning left me, he thinks we ought not to confirm the agreement made by Mr Bell, respecting Stublick Colliery & notice should be given to the People to desist working, & that it should be won by us under the direction of Mr Crawhall in the manner mentioned by Mr Cockshutt in his report, & when the lower seam is open'd or laid <dry>, then will be the time to <Lett> it, I don't understand Collieries that I may not express myself in proper terms, but you will comprehend my meaning, the agreement which Mr Bell proposed don't even mention the Lower Seam, w[hi]ch is the only one proper for our Works. Mr Bowns does not approve of our purchasing Mr Hunter's Estate as  we must borrow the Money, if we had the Money it w[oul]d be different, but in the present state our finances, he don't think it advisable, I will thank you to say we are obliged to Mr Hunter for the offer of it , & beg to decline it, Mr Bowns does not think the Dam being put in  the Steel Hall Estate is any reason for our putting ourselves to the inconvenience of raising Money to purchase the Estate , he is of the opinion in case the Estate should be likely to be Sold, it should then be named to Mr Hunter, not as a thing of consequence but as his Father had done it of himself; before the Estate was Sold he should confirm it to our use as his Father intended, & no consideration to be offer'd, as it may be supposed that was settled between my Father & his, if any was thought necessary; I will keep the plan till you may want it. We hope you will press for the 900£ as soon as possible, or for the Bond bearing Interest,  Mr Bowns says they <might> to feel much obliged to me for not demanding Interest for the Years past. 

He wishes Mr Foster to be again spoke to for the Money, & all arrears to be got that can possibly be procured, & all the Sums deposited in the Banks that you are able to obtain, for we are now paying Interest for a larger Sum than we ought , & Mr Bowns will have to draw for larger Sums soon, 1500£ for Mrs Lee & Mrs Stacpool & upwards of 1000£ to cover advances made for us in Yorkshire, & other Sums also I fear.  Mr Bowns does not recommend our purchasing Mr Bosville's Land Tax & he thinks probably no other person may purchase it that we may have an opportunity, when we have more Money to spare.

      I am just returned from viewing some Ironstone <Pitts> & have been five Hours on my Horse in  incessant Snow & Rain, & in worse Roads than are to be found even about Allenheads, that I really write with some difficulty as my fingers are froze, & my faculties not the brighter for being completely soaked, I never take a Cold, & in Col. Beaumont's absence it is my Duty to be active for him, as he is serving his Country, he is by this time at Portpatrick, I hear from him daily, he is quite well, Six Troops of his Reg[imen]t are safe in Ireland without any accident, & the whole will be soon over now.

[End of letter. Lack of signature might indicate that another sheet was once present]