Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 3 Apr 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to			Newcastle 3d. April 1803

Coln. Beaumont, Bretton, Wakefield, Yorkshire		



Dear Madam

      Since my Letter to you of the 28th. Inst. Mr. Bell informs me, that Mr. Wr. Heron’s Appointment of Bailiff of the Manor of Hexham, is not filed in the Office of the Manor Court as he reported, of which he has been acquainted, & he is desired to send it to you; it will be necessary that Mr. Bell should have his Appointment as soon as you can conveniently send it, that he may be empowered to do the necessary Acts, previous to holding the Head Courts. – 

	Mr. Thomas will be at Liberty to proceed with Mr. W. Bates to take a view of the several Estates & Collieries as well as the Estates of Mr. Bosville, previous to their meeting Mr. Bowns at Hexham on the 24th. inst.; after the 27th. Mr. Bell will be at Liberty to give them every Information in his Power, when it will be necessary that the Tenants should be called together to be treated with about their Rent; I don’t understand that Mr. Thomas has yet had an Appointment from Mr. Bosville; will not that be necessary?   I have given him your full Directions as to the Lands and Collieries. – 

      Thos. Crawhall goes tomorrow to make the Lead Carriage Pay, which together with the Subsistence Money for the Workmen and the Candle Bills, will amount to upwards of £9,000 no part of which has been drawn from the Bank.

      Mr. C. Blackett has yesterday paid £3,500 on Account  of the Balance due from Messrs. Locke Blackett & Co.; there remains due, about £4,000 – which we expect against the Lead Pay in May; he desires me to inform you & Colonel Beaumont, that he is doubtful whether he shall have it in his Power to pay that Sum against the Time, & that he requests the Favour of a little Indulgence for a short Time, & that he is very willing to allow 5 p[er] Cent for the Sum for a short time; his Engagements with Mr. Locke in the Lead Works at this Place, have been attended with a much greater Expence than at first was expected, & altho’ they are doing very well at present, he is very uneasy least he should disappoint in the Payment of the Sum in due Time. – 

      Mr. Heron has been repeatedly applied to respecting the Business of Kilhope & Welhope, and he promises to get it done: for my part I wish that it had never been brought on the Carpet, it certainly was not the Business of your Agents to have done it; the Lease granted was (by the best Advice) allowed to be binding on the See of Durham, & this Fine & Surrender will entail an Expence, Delay & Inconvenience that was not foreseen. –

      I understand that Mr. Bosville has contracted Plans of his Estate which he had from Mr. Bell; they would be of great Service to Mr. Thomas in his taking a View, were the sent him, they will be returned. – 

      I observe the Arrangement which you have made respecting Mr. Thomas’s Salary, which in my Opinion is very fair and equitable. – 

      I have repeatedly spoke to Mr. Isaac Hunter, as well as his Relation Mr Anty. Surtees, respecting the Valuation to be taken of his Estate, which they have promised me shall be gone into about the middle of the Month, at which Time (on Notice being given) Mr. W. Bates will attend them, so that it may be compleated against Mr. Bowns comes down, I can do no more in the Business & I believe that some Business I have in the North, will oblige me to be there at that Time. –

      No Information has been obtained respecting the Lead that has been stolen.  Since the above, Mr. Heron has sent me his Appointment to the Office of Bailiff to the Manor of Hexham, which I have enclosed under another Cover. – 

      I am &c.J.E.B.

      

I have by this Days post received Mr. Bowns’s Letter of the 1st. Inst. enclosing the Appointment of Mr. Bell, which shall be forwarded to him. -