Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Charles Bowns – 21 Jul 1803

Charles Bowns Esq.			N.Castle 21st. July 1803.

Banktop, near Barnsley Yorkshire.			



Dear Sir

       I was yesterday favored with your Letter of the 18th. Inst. by which I hope that this may find you at home & well after your Journey.-

       I observe that Coln. Beaumont has opened an Account with Ransom, Moreland & Co. who have engaged to furnish all such Monies as may from time to time be wanted for the carrying on the Lead Works, as well as for his private Concerns, the former I presume through the Bank of Sir Wm. Loraine, Baker, Pearson & Co. who have already furnished Subsistence Money for the Workmen, Bills for the Bishop of Durham & Rector of Stanhope’s Dues &c. & to whom I have paid what Cash & Bills that have come to my Hands in Payment for Lead &c. – the several Sums which will become due this Month, Augt. & Sepr. are not in Bills in my Custody (as you supposed) but when paid will be placed in the Bank of Loraine & Co. for the above Purposes.   There has not yet been a Necessity for discounting any of the Bills, should there be it shall be done.   The Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Co. shall be debited for the Bill of £1,500 – which has been refused Acceptance; their Accot. includes all Bills paid to them, they not being the Holders of any Bills that have not yet become due, the Cause of which has been owing to the chief Sales of Lead this year being to Easterby & Co. by their giving a higher Price than the London Houses &c. were induced to do, in Consequence their Payments as they became due were not in Bills on London, but in Checks on the Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Co. The Notes of that Bank which I received the 25th. June for Subsistence for the Workmen which were returned, amounting to about £3,000 – I have in my Hands & have not carrd. to the Bank Account, it being expected that their Notes which were in Circulation at the Time the Bank made the Stop will b e taken & discharged sometime prior to their other Concerns being settled. – Mr. Burdon is at this Place at present with the Accountant that he brought down, arranging their Bank Concerns previous to their being laid before the Gentlemen who have engaged to inspect the same & to communicate to the Publick a State of their Affairs.   Easterby & Co. with their Solicitor are doing the like which they promise to lay before their Creditors this Week.   I observe that you propose coming North the first Week in August, I would recommend that it may be early in that Week, for our Assizes will commence the 6th. Augt. when it will be difficult to get any Business transacted.

       I am &c.-J.E.B.



P.S. I have this day recd. from James & Co. a Check on the Bank of Lampton & Co. for £2,031 – 6 –‘’ & a Bill from Locke Blackett & Co. at 40 Days on <J> Locke of London for £681-2-3, both which I have placed in the Bank of Loraine & Co.