Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 21 Aug 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to					Newcastle 21st. Augt. 1803.

Colonel Beaumont Worthing, Sussex.                        



Dear Madam

       I am favored with your Letters of the 14th. & 18th. Inst. & observe the Contents.   I am pleased to find that you & Coln. Beaumont approve of what I recommended respecting the Subsistence Money; the Calls on the Workmen at this Time on Accot. of the Militia, the Army of Reserve &c. made it necessary. – Thos. Crawhall Jr. went this Morning to Allenheads &c. with Notes from the Bank of Sir Wm. Loraine & Co. for that Purpose for two Months as well as for a Carriage Pay amounting on the whole to near £5,000 - - Mr. Cockshutt in his Inspection made many useful & judicious Observations, of wch. he will inform you, some of which it may not be advisable at the present Time to carry into Execution, but may be delayed ‘till a more favourable Opportunity. – Mr. Walton returned from making the Inspection of the Arkendale Mines with T.Crawhall T. Emerson yesterday Evening; their Report ( a Copy of which shall  be sent you in a day or two) I understand is very favorable, but the great Difficulty will be, the Mode of carrying on the Works for the Benefit of the Creditors, conformable with the Lease of the Lords of Arkendale, which are Sir Chas. Turner, Mr. <Slea> of Stockton & Mr. <Fron> Forster of Buston in Northumberland, the Rent £3,900 - - p[er] Ann. the Lot ore & Tythe Ore to Lord Louther, one tenth; you shall hear  further from me on the Business when I have seen or heard from  Mr. Crawhall who has crossed the Moors from Arkendale.

       The Committee for examining the State of the Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Co. have not yet made their Report; three of the Gentn. were in my Opinion very improper, as to Justice T. he is no Man of Business, & his Deafness renders him utterly unfit for it; you & Mrs. Beaumont have so very large a Sum locked up (as it were) have great Reason to complain, on which Account a Letter from you to Mr. Burdon to spur them up a little will in my Opinion be very proper.

       The Losh’s & Lubbren are Bankrupts, & the Loss will I fear be great, they were not suspected till very late & some Persons at this Place are Creditors from 2 to £5,000 another House at this Place have stopped Payments, but you have no Concern with them at present.

       There is not any Demand for Lead at present, chiefly on Account of the several Ports that are shut up against Importation, & the little that is purchased is at Hull & Chester; the Lead Company, Mr. Walton, myself &c. still stand at £32 & £33 for Refined, but I doubt much our obtaining those Prices.-

       I observe what Mr. Burdon told you in April last as to the Intentions of the Halls to pay you the £5,000 they were indebted to you; I am very confident that they never had the least Intention of doing it, it was to give you Confidence at the Time & it serves to confirm me in the very bad Opinion that I have of the Halls, & to surprize me that Mr. Burdon should be so blinded & grossly imposed on by them.   I expect Mr. Cockshutt from Alnwick Tomorrow or Tuesday.  

       I am &c. -J.E.B.