letter – Isaac Hunter to John Erasmus Blackett – 3 Mar 1785

J.E. Blackett Esqr N[ew]Castle 				Dukesfield 3rd March 85



Sir 

      Have send pr this days Carrier a Plate of Silver as p[er] inclosed Acc[oun]t the severity of the Winter I fear will oblige me to trouble you for more money when in town on the 21st of this month then usual at this season as the Ore Carriers are complaining much of their Galloways and unless they have Mo[ney] against Ladyday to get meal for them that they will not be able to do much till after the Pastures get up, w[hi]ch will not be before the latter end of May; I think I could with 50£ more then last spring (i.e. 250£) satisfy them pretty well. Mr Gibsons the Clerk to the South Road told me when I saw him last that there would be a meeting of th Comm[issione]rs at Corbridge in March to let the Gates which would be advertised. I sent to him last Tuesday to know the day but he was not at Home. I doubt it will not be convenient for you to attend and that those Commis[sione]rs that will attend will be too much under the influence of Mr Silvertop for any think to be don in regard to Stella Barr without you. I spook o Mr Fuester Teasdale who said he would attend; but I expected that the meeting would have been at N[ew]castle I think one might get Cap[tai]n Smith, Major Surtees & Busby to attend in case you could meet them so as to prevent Mr Silvertop having the whole of his own way and if the Commiss[ioner]s would compound w[i]th Sir Thomas Blackett for his Lead at Stella Barr for a term of y[ea]rs would be better then to be subject every y[ea]r to those that takes that Barr w[hi]ch they cannot refuse if they pay any regard to the promise made to Sr Walter Blackett that no Barr should be placed there – shall acquaint you of the Day of meet.g once I learn it of Mr Gibson

      Mr Robson (who married one of the Miss Roberts’s) has a son in the West Indeas who has send thim some Castor Oil he has a large stone Bottle of it at Hex[ha]m the Surgeons there are to have a part of it. I desire he would keep the remainder till I acquainted you as its said to be very fine & he can sell it much lower then th Chymists and I find by Mr Dean that it will keep a long while w[i]th proper care   		I am

      Sir yo[u]r mo[st]H[um]ble Ser[van]t

      IH