Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 17 Apr 1804

Mrs Beaumont under Cover to				Newcastle 17thApril 1804

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square London		



Dear Madam

      I wrote to you yesterday to which I refer you; since which Mr Pearson called on me to show me a letter from Mr Baker enclosing a Copy of the Engagement with the Bank of Davison & Co, he was not so much surprized, as he never had an Opinion of their fulfilling their Engagement with you: had Davison not been the Occasion of your breaking off the Agreement entered into with the Bank of Sir W[ilia]m Loraine & Co. I should most certainly have made a Sale of Lead the last year to have answered the Purpose of the Lead Pay (altho’ at a smaller reduced Price) & this very unpleasant Business would have been prevented.  I this Morning saw Messrs Walton & Forster, who are astonished at this Breach of Faith of Davison’s Bank & much concerned at the Consequences attending it; besides the Difficulties which Mr D[avison] has brought upon himself by his very improper & unjustifiable Conduct I understand that a Government Extent for a considerable Sum is hanging over his Head.

	I have no Demand for Lead from the London Houses, was I to make them an offer at present at a small reduced Price, they would take the Advantage of it by beating down the Price & at the same Time they would not purchase a Quantity; for what I may sell from this Time I shall make a Point of having Bills for about the amount at the Time of making the Sale. The 3rd Instalment for the Debt of Easterby and Halls amounting to about £8,500 is to be made the end of November by an accepted Bill or Bills on London. I am in Hopes of obtaining them next Month of the Committee. You will soon hear from Mr Thomas respecting the Building of the Church & Chancel of Allendale & the Chapel of St. Peters which after having been viewed by the Chancellor of the Archbishop has been directed to be carried into Execution.

	The more I think on the Behaviour of the Commissioners for Darlington Ward & the very infamous Aspersions of the Reverend Mr Davison at the public Meeting, the more necessary I think it will be that Mr Heron should go over on the Appeal Day on Friday next, to require an explanation from him of his Conduct on that Occasion.

	My Brother & I were at Hexham last week on some Business of our Nephews; as he had not seen the Alterations at the Abbey, I took him over it; every Thing was in excellent Order. Medley’s Wife is better but far from being free from her alarming Complaint & I much Doubt her Recovery. 		

      I am etc. J.E.B.