Letter – Diana Beaumont to John Erasmus Blackett – 16 Nov 1803

								Bretton  Nov[embe]r 16th 1803

Dear Sir

      We left London on the 7th & arrived here on the 9th without taking Colds, or hav[in]g any accidents; our 3 Young Travellers did not suffer in the least, & as my little Girl improves in Health, I do the same in Strength, I was favor’d with your Letter of the 6th on our arrival here, I am very glad you will employ an Amanuensis & beg you will not fatigue your Eyes with writing in this dark foggy Weather, it always gives us pleasure to hear from you in any manner, I am anxious particularly at this time to know if your Family escapes the Fever which the Account of in the Newcastle Paper has alarmed me extremely, I trust it is not so bad;

      We have not seen Mr Bowns for more than a few Minutes yet, since we came down, but he is to come to us on Sunday next, Mr Cockshutt has passed a Day with us, he read us his observations at the Mines, & the Letter he addressed to the Workmen, which does him much Credit, I can perceive he thinks it highly necessary a principal Agent for Coalcleugh should be found to take Mr Dickinsons Situation, he has long wished to resign, I wish we could hear of an Agent that was likely to suit, we will be much obliged to you if you would point out to us any manner that we could set about enquiring for one, & beg you will have the goodness to enquire where you think it is probable to meet with one, perhaps your Friends at the Scotch Mines might recommend one, Mr Cockshutt says he will enquire in Derbyshire. – Coalcleugh was once very flourishing & may be again under an Agent who is able to look after the Concern – we have not heard from Messrs Davison Noel & Co, therefore hope they have been able to make the Arrangement with Sir Wm Loraines House, we shall be in Town by the 2nd of December, & shall hear then what has been done; relying as I do on your Judgement I feel little anxiety on Account of our next Sale of Lead, now we have secured Money for our great Lead Pay, & shall think ourselves fortunate if you can sell on better terms than the Lead Company; I observe the form of Adverstisement is alter’d in regard to Burdons Affairs, I am afraid it may be changed many times yet before we are all paid, Mr Burdons aim was to take in his Friends, which he has done, the Surtees’s, the Public; w[hic]h they have done; - 

      Mr Cockshutt gave me the enclosed Paper w[hic]h he said was given to him when he was in the North, if the Money has not been rec’d, I hope it can be got, all Sums will be of use this Year, it is a Copy of the Paper I send, & the N. Bonback of the Paper had a line drawn thro’ it, but w[hic]h we could easily make out, & Mr Cockshutt copied it all, I hope we shall prevail on Mr Cockshutt to pass some Months with us at Hexham Abbey next Year, he has almost promised to do so, there is no chance of Bretton being able to receive us, tho’ everything has been done with more expedition than we could have expected, & uncommonly well indeed, under the Inspection of our House Steward Mr Wood who is a very valuable Man to us; Mr Cockshutt told us he heard that Mr Thomas was at Sheffield, & he wrote to a Friend of his to request we might see him at Bretton, w[hic]h I hope we shall –

      we will thank you to desire T. Crawhall will order a Cask of Red Fume to be sent to Bretton & a small quantity of Lead, Mr Wood says about the same quantity that has been usually sent, & it may be of the worst quality, the Red Fume is to paint Cart Wheels, it may be powder’d, but he wishes it to be ground & mixed with Oil, or it then becomes so hard it cannot be used – I offer you 34£ the Fod: for the Lead, prompt Payment, I wish you may have offers at the same rate for your next Sale. – I write in haste, w[hic]h you will excuse – 

      I am Dear Sir very Sincerely Yours

      D Beaumont