Letter – Diana Beaumont to John Erasmus Blackett – 8 Nov 1797

							Bretton Novr. 8th 1797

Dear Sir,

      I am sorry to hear by Tweedale that it is on account of your Health you are now at Harrowgate, & hope you will receive much benefit, if you will not consider the Journey too long at this Season of the Year, it will give me great pleasure to see you at Bretton. I have two Young Ladies to introduce to your Acquaintance I think you have only seen my Boys; Col: Beaumont’s return is I fear uncertain tho’ he writes that he hopes to be with me in a fortnight or 3 Weeks.

      I am very distressed to find things have been carried on so extremely wrong at the Abbey, from Tweedale I have been informed of all particulars, Mr. Newton must have been out of his Senses the whole time, for No one that was not deranged in his Mind could possibly have ordered and conducted the Business as [he] has done, Colonel Beaumont & myself must lament that we were not informed of his Situation, every thing is done contrary to what we order’d & from the beginning it appears he must not have been himself, & his Son quite incapable; Tweedale informs me Miss Newton imagined there must have been a Paper signed by Col: B. & her Father, & that he was Building it by Contract, you know we never had an Idea of the kind, Mr. Newton ought not to be allowed any consideration for his foolish plans wh[ich] evidently were done out of this Senses or for the useless Journeys of his Son, I imagine the Gentlemen have been properly instructed in these particulars who are to be the Arbitrators –

      I remain Dear Sir Very sincerely yr. most Obedt.

      D Beaumont