Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 30 Dec 1800

Mrs. Beaumont						Newcastle 30 Decr. 1800

Bretton, Wakefield Yorkshire



Dear Madam

      I am favoured with your letter, and am very glad to hear that Coln. Beaumont arrived safe and well in Ireland, and that his Reception by the Lord Lieutenant was so much to his Wish. – I observe what you say respecting Mr. C. Blackett having the whole Supply of Gunpowder for the Mines and on the Terms offered, which shall be attended to. Notwithstanding I had been advised to keep the House ever since I wrote to you, I would certainly have met the Lead Stewards at Hexham on the 29th. had not Mr. Heron acquainted me (on the 27th.) that it would be necessary that Mr. Crawhall, Mr. Allgood and the several witnesses should be down at this Place  (where the Arbitrators are met) on this Day, on which Account I thought it advisable for all of them to come down, I have been with them this Morning at the Office where they have received the Subsistence  for the Workmen amounting to £2950 .. - .. – it is a Week sooner than usual, but the next Payment will be nine Weeks.   The Stewards inform me that the State of the several Mines are much in the same Line that they were when you last saw them, the Floots at Allenheads not quite so promising, Coalcleugh much the same, Pudding thorn Mine adjoining to Kilhope in Weardale very promising, but on the whole the Quantity from those Mines will fall short this Year of 1798 & 99. – 

      There has not been time for all the different Regulations at the several Mines and Lead Mills to have been carried into Effect, but I hope that they will be compleatly so, during the Course of the next Year, if they are not, it will be the Fault of the Agents, for all the Reforms & Regulations that have been recommended by Mr. Bowns Mr. Cockshutt Mr. Mulcaster and Myself, & approved of and directed to be carried into Execution by you and Coln. Beaumont, have been mentioned to the Agents, and they will each  of them in a few Days have the whole in writing. – 

      Since I wrote to you last I have sold to Mr. C. Blackett & Co. for their White Lead Works 600 ps. Refined Lead at £23.10.- p[er] Fother and 400 Pieces Common at £23.5.- The Stock at Blaydon at present does not exceed 400 Pieces Refd. 800 Pieces common 9,000 pieces Refinable 400 Pieces Slag, there may be about 1000 pieces on the Road, which every Endeavoour will be used to get down to Blaydon before any more Lead is delivered from the several Mills. –The Price of Lead  is (in my Opinion) likely to keep up, notwithstanding this unfortunate Breach with Rusia, which, I do not think will have any material Effect on the Lead Trade. –

      I have wrote fully to Mr. Bell respecting the Business of Dukesfield Dam, for as he was made acquainted with the Affair by the late Mr. Hunter & was privy to his Declaration on the Subject, he certainly will be the proper Person to transact that Business with Mr. Isaac Hunter, and to get that small Piece of Ground properly conveyed to Coln. Beaumont and you before the Sale of the Steel Hall Estate, I shall just mention the Matter to to Mr. Isaac Hunter as a thing of Course which I have no Doubt of his doing.-

      I acquainted Mr. Bell with what you wish to have done in the Stable Yard at the Abbey near theTrough (where the Carriages stand to be wash’d) which is to be well paved with large Pebble Stones. – 

      I paid Mr. C. Blackett £1939.10.6 and Messrs. Rudman & Hall £455.2.0 for Gunpowder for the Mines, they allowing £119..14..6 for Discount of 5 Pr. Cent, this was certainly advisable, as they must have been paid in May without the Allowance of Discount.-

      The Bill that was paid me by Walkers & Co. for £3283..7..1 at a Month, was not paid into the Bank, but reserved for the Purpose of enabling me to pay these Sums, the Subsistence Money, for Candles &c. – Mr. Bell is desired to prepare a Bond for Mr. Isaac Hunter to execute for his Debt of £900. – and a pressing Letter has been wrote to Mr. Forster. – 

      I understand that Genl. Balfour leaves this Place in a Week or ten Days, against which time he is to settle for the Rent from the 12th. or 15th. Septr. to the 30th. Novemr. 11 Weeks; the Matter in Dispute with Mr. Bates respecting what Furniture &c. was broke or deficient, must be left to an indifferent Person to settle what is fair and reasonable to be paid for the same. 

      I am &c. J.E.B.



The Gentlemen of the Law are sitting at present on the Harehope Gill Business, examining Records & Evidence,  of hope that the Issue of it may be in your Favour. -