Letter – Edward Blackett to James Mewburn – 26 Jan 1710

James               							Janry 26   1709/10



      I Recd yrs as also one from Jacob.  I perceive that you have disposed of most of the Work gear as also that you have been at Warksburn, but I perceive Bailiff Dodd was not with you , so I question whether you see the places that he told me was so hopefull,  Above 30 years ago old Mr Charlton would have taken a Lease for 21 years of that place, and give me 1/6, and would have obliged himself to lay out a good Sum of money, he had certainly the advice of some able Workmen or otherwise he would not have offer’d so fair a proposall  however I’ll have it viewed again this Spring and I doubt not but to lett it to my Advantage

      In case James Blacket has got the haddock and cannot be disposed to you may send them to Newby be sure you buy me 50 Couple of little dry’d Bedling Codling such as I had from Capt Ogle, and send them to Newby against Lent

      Write to Loraine that he make the same weight as formerly for I perceive he Asks more than the Advantage of the Overweight is worth, Acqt him him tis my Ordr to give him notice aforehand that if he do not make the 40 fother According to our Agreement I will certainly take the Advantage of his Bond so that he cannot have yr <…> for it seeing he gives him such fair notice of it

      Either you or Jacob’s mistaken as to the quantity of Lead smelted & lying at the mill both yr Lettrs are of the same date, and you write that there are 1836 pc Smelted & 177 lying at the Mill & he writes me theres 1846 & 174 pcs at the Mill, So one of you must be mistaken, but that’s no very great matter,  if the haddock be the least <loss> send them to Newby, be sure you forget not to send the Bedling Codling as Order’d   Always give me a line per Saturday nights post

      Yr Assrd friend



Mr Ja. Mewburn



      John Lowes had a Lease of Whitshields for a small Rent <…. for> life so I would have you to write a line to Will Armstrong and inclose it to Jacob that he may send it by a Careful hand, to Will Armstrong that he’ll make Inquiry what days mowing &  what days  plowing, & what <Gotes> the pasture will keep, I believe <none> can give a better Acct than old Geo. Barrow, for if I be not mistaken he told me that he could procure me a Gent. that would give me nigh £20 a year but perhaps that might be partly out of malice, however I know ‘tis very Considerably better than the Rents, I might be very well inform’d as to value before I lett it, for Will Lowes has agreed him to take it for 21 years