Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 10 Jul 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to 			Newcastle 10th. July 1803.

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London.



Dear Madam	

      I wrote to you the 8th. inst. to Cheltenham & yesterday to Mr. Bowns with some Inclosures, Copies of which (except the Bank Accot.) I send you herewith. – I have been favoured with your Letter of the 6th.  with a Copy of Mr. Morland’s Letter, & Coln. Beaumonts of the 5th. with a Copy of Mr. Burdons Letter of the     which I must say that on the whole I think is a very extraordinary one & merits Censure: - The first Information that I had of the Stop of the Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Brandling was from the Hand Bill on Thursday Noon the 30th. Ulto.   I am sorry to find by a letter from the Deputation by this Post that the Minister declines granting any Relief to the Bank & to the Publick at the present Time: but of this you will be more fully informed in Town; the Bank of England may possibly be prevailed on to lend their Aid, on Security being given. – yesterday Afternoon an Extent for £16,000 Excise was served on the Bank Property, Mr. Aub. Surtees’ House in Saville Place, another for £3,000 Stamp Duty is expected down, it is thought that Mr. W. Surtees who went up to Town, has found Means to sitisfie Government for the Amount of the Taxes, & Mr. Brandling & the Collector for £3,000 – of the Customs. –

      I am by this day’s Post favoured with your Letter of the 7th. & one from Mr. Bowns of the 8th.; you will observe that I sent him by the last Post the necessary Information that he wanted, but least my Letter may not have come to his Hands I enclose them, & you will I expect find him in Town.-

      As to a Bank to undertake your Business, I have wrote to you and Mr. Bowns on the Subject & wait your Answer.   The Payments which have been made of late, have been by Checks on the Bank & not by Bills: I shall speak to Mr. C. Blackett, but I apprehend that it will not readily be in his Power to raise the £5,000 – on Interest.-

      I think that Coln. Beaumonts writing to the Lead Agents on this Occasion, will not be necessary & had best be let alone, but I have wrote to them directing the Dead Work for the present to be dropped, as well as the new Trials and that in letting of the Bargains for the next three Months, those Groves only that are productive are to be wrought, and that as soon as it is found advisable to continue the present Workings, they shall be acquainted; this Measure I thought advisable for the present, which I hope that you & Coln. Beaumont may approve of.- This very unfortunate Affair has been occasioned by the very unwarrantable & shameful Speculations of the Surtees’, nor has Mr. Burdon been clear of them: their Conduct has certainly been inexcusable, & latterly I have been of that Opinion as you may please to observe by my Letters to you & Coln. Beaumont of the 19th. Feb.y the 6th. & 12th. of March; this unfortunate Event has led to others of the like Nature and there is no forming a Judgement how far it may extend.  I am &c. J.E.B.



[In a different hand:] The Surtees have not yet come forward with any Propositions to their Creditors & the Publick, & Circumstanced as they are at present I do not apprehend that they can very soon.