Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 15 Dec 1802

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to				Newcastle 15th. Dec.r 1802

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London			



Dr. Madam

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 14th. inst. & am happy in hearing so good an Account of yourself, the Colonel and your Children after your Journey.-

      I have had a violent Attack of gouty Spasms in my Stomach, which has confined me to the House some Days, I got out for a couple of Hours this Morning, but I find myself feeble & much shook by the late Attack.-

      T.Crawhall went on Sunday to Allenheads with Subsistence Money for the Workmen, where the rest of the Agents were to meet him.-

      I shall send for Mr. W. Bates & have some Discourse with him respecting the Valuation of the Steel Hall Esate: should he undertake it I will give him the necessary Instructions &forward the Business as much as is in my Power. 

      I observe what you say respecting the Appointment of a land Steward; I shall be making the necessary Enquiry for a skilful Person that may be likely to answer your Purpose.   I think that Mr. Bell was desired to receive the £5 – p[er] Ann. as well as all the Arrears of Mr. Errington respecting Cockland, however I have repeated that Direction to him & answered the other parts of his Letter.-

      As to the Boots for the Use of the Men for the Purpose of repairing the Mill Race &c. they certainly will be very necessary, but I think that it will be fair & reasonable that the Miller should be at one half of the Expence, Coln. Beaumont & you at the other, the Miller will have them in his keeping, and will of Course be interested in the Preservation of them; altho’ I don’t object to the Payment for Boots, I have lately done so for Spurs, for I refused a Demand on Colonel Beaumont for fifty pair of Spurs; I gave the Person from Birmingham the Colonel’s Direction.-

      You do not say whether you approve of what I recommended in my last Letter respecting the Bishop and his Lady &c.-

      Since my Letter to you I have sold to Messrs. Doubleday & Easterby 1,000 ps. Ref[ine]d. Lead at £33 –.. - .. - - 1,000 ps. Com[mo]n at £32 – and 500 ps. Slag at £31 – 15 – p[er] Fo[dde]r. for their Lead Works; I shall at the end of this Month have 14,000 ps. of Lead ready for Sale, but the London Houses I fear will not purchase at the present high Price, when they can be supplied with Stockton and Welch Lead so much lower; our Dependance at present must be on the Demand for the Works on this River, & some of them have been supplied as above & there has been even Importations of Ore from Wales for these Lead Works. – I am &c. –J.E.B.