Letter – Diana Beaumont to John Erasmus Blackett – 22 Nov 1795

John E Blackett Esq Charlotte Square Newcastle upon Tyne

								Bretton. Novr. 22d 1795

Dear Sir

      I was in hopes I should have had the pleasure of seeing you at Bretton before this time as you did talk of Visiting Harrowgate; but I think it is now too late in the Season; there is Company still at Buxton; Colonel Beaumont is so much Engaged with Parliamentary Business that he has not been able to leave London since he went to attend the Meeting of Parliament & as he finds there is no chance of his coming down, he is anxious for my going to him, that I propose setting off with my little Boys on the 30th of this Month; - You would be surprised to hear of the Sudden Death of your Acquaintance Lord Macdonald, I hear he has left 120,000£ to be divided amongst the Younger Children (that is the Boys) for he has left to Lady Sinclair only 5.000£ of the Money, the present Lord has a clear Estate of 12,000£ per Ann: the Money was all saved by the late Lord; - Mr Bosville is in London, he was a Month at Thorp which was a longer Time than I expected he would remain there alone: - Mr Skelton wrote to Mr Straker last Week respecting an Article in the Bankers Accounts, & will be glad of an Answer, a Gentleman from London was here Yesterday who informed me that Lead was much Wanted, & he knew that 20£ per Fodder or upwards would be given for any quantity if it could be obtained, it will be fortunate for those who have  kept up their Lead if this is really the case, but the Information one receives is not always to be relied on, I think you named having made a Sale at £17. 10. 0 & 18£, but as that is some Weeks since I hope others have been made at the higher price; if we have any quantity of Lead & could Sell at this advance of Price, & be able to deliver it (for I think there is the difficulty, from what you mention’d when we were last in Nothumberland) I hope we should then be able to have some Money beforehand & not always have Sums to raise to enable us to make our Pays, & by degrees I hope the Credit will be shortened, I don’t like to see so many Thousands in the Bankers Books for which we are paying Interest at 5 pr Ct; in Colonel Beaumont’s absence I am obliged to think of Business, & am very completely occupied in that way in Yorkshire, I hope I [shall] have the pleasure of hearing from you before I leave Bretton – I have promised to represent Old Mrs Rodham to-morrow Morng. At Cannon Hall & answer for her <attention> to the Sixth Son, the Boy is 5 Weeks Old, Colonel Beaumont is to be one of the Godfathers & will be represented by Mr. Cockshutt – I beg my Compts to Mrs Collingwood

      & remain Dear Sir Your affectionate Hble. Servt

      D. Beaumont