Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 23 Jul 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to				Newcastle 23d. July 1803. –

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London.                      



Dear Madam

       I am favoured with your Letter of the 20th. Inst. & observe the Contents.-

       Inclosed you have a Copy of my Letter to Mr. Bowns who I expect at this Place the 1st August.

No Propositions have yet come from the Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Brandling, nor from Easterby & Co. to their Creditors; I understand that the Arrangement which has been made of their Concerns by Mr. Black (the Person which Mr. Burdon brought down) will next Week be laid before the Gentlemen who have engaged to inspect the same, when a State of them will be lain before the Publick; Easterby & Co. have engaged to do the like.

       Mr. C. Blackett thinks himself highly obliged to you & Coln Beaumont for your very kind Indulgence; at the same time he begs leave to assure you that he shall take the necessary Steps towards the Discharge of his Debt as soon as possible. – Notwithstanding you have about £80,000 –‘’ – ‘’ locked up (as I may say) by this very unfortunate stop of the Bank & the Consequences attending it; it has been in my Power to place in the Bank of Sir Wm. Loraine & Co. upwards of £10,000 –‘’ –‘’ which will be fully sufficient to discharge all Demands on you in this Quarter as well as for carrying on your Works for some Time, which with the Lead at Blaydon & what may be expected down, on a favourable Sale being made, will relieve you from any Uneasiness respecting the several Lead Pays.   When the Propositions of the Bank &c. are known we shall be better able to judge how far it may be advisable to renew the Dead Work at the Mines as well as the new Trials, which have been laid off for a Time. –

       The Reduction that I made in the Price of the Parcel of Lead that I sold, was only for a temporary Purpose, which I thought at that time expedient, being satisfied had I not accepted of the Price at that Time, that others would, & as a Proof of it, neither Walkers & Co. nor the other Houses would at the Time purchase more at the reduced Price, it was not to make Price, for I now stand at £32 & £33 p[er] Fod[de]r., but I really do not expect to obtain it, many of the Ports being at this Time shut up, & the London Houses stand off in Expectation that the Lead &c. in the Possession of Easterby & Co., must for the Benefit of their Creditors, soon come to Market, which must affect the Price.   I have consulted Mr. Heron respecting having Recourse to coursive Measures being adopted with Easterby & Co. which will be attended to: the Seizure made by Mr. Walton has not answered his Purpose, Bail being given, so I understand that he has not gained any Advantage; I certainly agree with you, that neither Honour nor Honesty is to be expected from Easterby & the Halls.   I am &c. J.E.B.