Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 18 Nov 1803

Mrs Beaumont under Cover to			Newcastle 18. Novr. 1803

Col. Beaumont M.P.  Bretton Wakefd. Yorks

				

Dr: Madam

       I am  favoured with your letter of the 16th. Inst. & am very glad to hear of your arrival safe & well at Bretton & that neither yourself nor your young travellors suffered from the cold & fatigue.   Myself & family are much obliged to you for the anxiety which you express on our account respecting the Fever at this place; At this season of the year there has usually been a fever in the <low close> part of the town, the late close weather & the obstinacy of those inhabitants in not admitting Air to their habitations, contributed to increase it, but the accounts of it in the Papers were greatly exaggerated, for which some of the Publishers are under prosecution; at present the fever has subsided, & the Town is as healthy as usually at this Season.   I observe that Mr. Cockshutt has been staying with you, no person is more able to give you information & advice respecting your Mine Concerns than that Gentn. & we have experienced his readiness on all occasions to do it, his observations at the Mines, as well as the letter he addressed to the Workmen, were very judicious & highly creditable to himself – An Experienced Agent is certainly wanted for Coalcleugh, I shall make every necessary enquiry for such a person, & it would be well if he could be found in that part of the Country who is well conversant in the Mines of those parts. –

       I observe the paper you enclose, & I feat that nothing can now be recovered from the Proprietors of Brownley Hill Leadmine, they have acted a most scandalous dishonest part, after having made frequent applications to them & been put off by promises from time to time, I at length put the matter into the hands of the late Mr. Heron to bring an action against them which he delayed doing, & after some time told me that the Property was much changed & that those Partners that remained would plead the statute of limitation.  I told him to bring the action notwithstanding, and <to> put them on doing so disgraceful an Act but he neglected to proceed agt. them.

       Mr. Thomas was at Sheffield on some business of the Duke of Norfolks but he did not know that you were expected at Bretton.   The Lead Company have sold 7000 ps. Lead more to the London Houses but their Agent at this place has not been informed of the price, the buyers say that it is at £30 the same price as the last 10,000 ps., but I do not give credit to it.   The Lead & the Cask Fume shall be sent by the first opportunity as you direct, of which your House Steward Mr. Wood shall be advised, but the Fume can not be sent Red, it must go in its present State.  I am &c.   J:E:B.



I have not yet recd an answer to the letter that I wrote to Mr Davidson.   There does not appear any prospects of the affairs of S &B Co. Bank being soon settled.