Letter – John Bell to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 10 Feb 1796

Hexham Abbey 10th Februy. 1796

Sir

      It is expected the proposed Canal from Sea to Sea will be very productive of Profits to the Adventurers when finished.  This Business I am sorry to say is rather got into Party – It was intended at first to bring the Line of Canal up the South Side of the River and so to Hexham by Mr. <Dods> who first started the Idea of a Canal from the East to the West Sea but Mr. Chapman who is a native of England but has been in Ireland constructing a canal there was wrote for as I believe merely out of opposition to consider of this Business and he has taken his Line from N[ew]castle up the North Side of the River North of Hexham Brewr . along that Hill Side and so does not touch at Hexham and gives for a Reason that there will be no occasion for a Lock in that Distance I mean from N[ew]castle opposite to Hexham and adds that if the Canal go up the South Side of the River it never can be any part of the great Line of Communication between the two Seas

      At Hexham we are not at all satisfied with M r. Chapman’s assertion and he has brought no Proof for what he asserts

      I will either hand your Letter to Mr Thompson or speak to him about your Business the first time I see him in Town. At present he is laid up with a sore Leg – I am

      Sir Your most obedt. Servt.

      J Bell