Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 14 Nov 1802

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to		Newcastle 14 Novem.r 1802

Colonel Beaumont MP Bretton, Wakefield Yorkshire				



Dear Madam

      I had the Favour of your Letter of the 7th. inst. I should not have wrote to you on the Subject of your Claim on Mr. Errington, had I not received a Letter from Mr. Bowns on that Business after you left the North & Mr. Heron had in Consequence taken Mr. Williamson’s Opinion, which certainly puts that Matter out of Dispute; I have accordingly wrote to Mr. Bell to receive the former Payment with the Arrears.-

      T.Crawhall jnr. went this Morning to Allenheads with Subsistence Money for the Workmen, he will acquaint Mr. Hunter that you & Coln. Beaumont acceed to his Proposals for the Purchase of the Steel Hall Estate on the following Conditions: that no Attention whatever shall be paid by the Referees to Mr. Hunter’s former Valuation to make it the Ground of the proposed Referance; that a weeding of the Wood having been made since the Valuation  a fresh Valuation must be taken; that the two Referees shall previous to their proceeding on the Business, make choice of a third Person unconnected with either Party, as Umpire in Case of any Difference of Opinion arising between the two Referees: I believe that Mr. W. Bates, who you already employ, will be a proper Person to make Choice as your Referee, should you approve of him for the Purpose, on your informing me, I will desire him to undertake the Business.-

      The Maps of East & West Allen were sent in a small Box directed to Coln. Beaumont by the Leeds Coach this Morning, that of Hexhamshire will be sent by the Coach tomorrow, if these Maps are not soon returned, Mr. W. Bates cannot compleat the Valuation of those Estates before you go South.- With Respect to the Offer made for the Coll.y of St. John Lee, as my Brother is in some Degree interested in that Matter, I must desire to be excused giving any Opinion on the Business, further than saying that Mr. <H.> Errington’s former Offer of £200 per] Ann. with Liberty of giving it up, on six Months Notice, was chiefly for the Purpose of disappointing my Brother of having it under the Promise of the late Sir Thos. Blackett. – 

Had it not answered Mr. Errington’s Expectations it would have been given up but in Case of his succeeding he would (with his own Colliery adjoining) have commanded the Trade, & made the Town of Hexham pay his own Price for their Coals & his Plan for so doing would have been the high Rent of your Colliery. –

      Refined Lead is at present scarce; the high Price of Lead, the reduced Price of Silver, & the Poorness of the Ore in Silver occasions the refining at present a loosing Trade, if it was not on Account of the Litharge Trade, which must not be dropt, you must have given up refining for a Time; Mr. Walton & I have taken this Matter into Consideration & to enable the refining being carried forward, we have advanced the Price of refined Lead to £33 -10 -.. p[er] Fo.[dde]r Com.[mon lead] to £33 -.. -..

      I have not made any Sale since my last Letter, nor have any Offers been made, either by the London Houses, or for the foreign Markets, the only Demand at present is for the Lead Works on this River. –

      I paid Coln. Beaumont’s Subscription to Morpeth Races ten Guineas, Mr. Grey, Sir C. Moncke &c. having subscribed the same for three years; I have likewise pd. Mrs. Wilson of Alnwick five Guineas for her Lodgings which Mr. Heron said was proper & had been omitted, the Guinea that she returned being left for the Servants. – I am &c. J.E.B.



No further Accot. of the Bishop’s Proceeding.