Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 18 Feb 1804

Mrs Beaumont under Cover to					Newcastle 18 February 1804

      Colonel Beaumont MP Portman Square, London		



Dear Madam

      I wrote to you the 5th Inst. to which I beg leave to refer you. Messrs Walkers Partner Mr Parker has frequently of late treated with me for the Purchase of Lead told me that he could not come up to my Terms, for he could buy Lead considerably lower, however at len[g]th I sold them 3000 p[iece]s half refined with the usual Proportion of Slag at £30-10-,, per Fo[dder] & 50 Casks of Litharge at £32 the ton payable in Bills due in 6 Months; I have likewise sold Mr Ellill 70 Casks Litharge at the same Price, & I am in Treaty with him for a Quantity of  Lead to be paid for in Bills due in two Months (at his particular Desire) I have asked him £30 per Fo[dder] & I expect that he will make a Purchase on those Terms, which may be very convenient at the Time on Acco[unt] of some considerable Payments to be made as you will observe by the enclosed, & it may render it unnecessary to draw on Messrs Davison & Co next Month. Messrs Doubleday & Easterby have got from Blaydon 1000 p[iece]s Com[mo]n Lead at £30 per Fodder for the Works at Bill Quay. Mr C. Blackett who is in London at present has been informed of the sale of Walkers & Co & that his Friends in Town may have an Opportunity of purchasing on the same Terms. 

	I have no doubt you have seen Mr Burdon who has been in Town some days . I have some reason to believe that the Surtees’ were engaged in a considerable Iron Work near Greenock in Scotland, leased by them of Mr Oliver Colt who resides in Half Moon Street & I believe is a Partner in some Banking House in Town; Mr Colt’s Sister mentioned to me some Time ago, & on my expressing a Doubt of it, she told me that she had seen the Lease (this you will please not to mention) there does not appear to be any Notice taken of this Concern in the State of their Affairs, nor has any such Transaction come to the Knowledge of the Gent[leme]n of the Committee, which induces me to think that she has been mistaken in the Name of the Persons, but I wish that you would request Mr Davidson to make some Enquiry of Mr Colt into this Matter, as it may be of material Concern to the Creditors. 

      I am etc. J.E.B.