Letter – Edward Blackett to Jacob Peart – 15 Feb 1711

Feb 15

Honest Jacob

      I rec[eive]d your letter with an acc[oun]t w[hi]ch p[iece]s of lead is due to me from the undertakers & let me assure you once againe that nothing pleases me more then the flourishing of Fallowfeild lead mines both for my own sake & the undertakers for twas allwayes my great Desire rather to have a £200 a year without trouble then three with trouble

Phill[i]p Leece I perceive had some [bus]iness nigh newby so he Came in the Evening <to. see me for should take it very Ill if any old servt <of> mine should come within ½ a mile of me & <not> call to see me I must do him that Justice that he never namd fallowfeild grove out of his mouth for severall houres till I askd him if he knew how it was he told me had not been there for severall years only heard some people talk that it was pretty good & that he was resolvd to go & see it in a little time I know so much of Phillip that he shall be the very last man in the World that I should Employ for a Steward knowing very well the real diffirence he made amongst my brothers work people as likewise amongst my own w[hi]ch was the reason we both <turned> him of<f> I must own I never had a Steward in my life that I have so great an opinion of both for Judgement & honesty as your self never Designs to part with you out of my service provided you will be moderate in your sallary which I do not Question but you will I perceive in your letter that there is a rep[or]t that I give you but £10 a year & that I offerd Phillip £20 you must not give Cr[edit] to those foolish Idle reports & pray do not write me any more of them for it does but vex me when I hear them below you have a Coppy of a proposall I had lately which give me your opinion of & w[ha]t you think fit to be Inserted in it I am

      Your assured