Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 30 Jan 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to				Newcastle 30th. Jan.y 1803.-

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square London



Dear Madam

      I have the Favour of your Letter of the 25th. Inst. & I am glad to find that the late Sales of Lead that I have made & purpose of supporting the Price, is approved of by you & Coln. Beaumont: the latter Sale of 12,000 ps. to Easterby & Co. at £32 & £33 cannot be compleated before the end of March or the beginning of April: since my last Letter to you I have sold 1,500 ps. Comon Lead for the Petersburgh Market at £32 ½ ; by the Letters that I have had from Scotland, Derbyshire & Wales, I think there is no Doubt of the price being kept up.-

      I enclose you Copy of Mr. Silvertop’s Letter: I have considered the Matter fully with Mr. Mulcaster and we agree in Opinion that the leading your Lead a small Part of the Way down Mr. Silvertop’s Waggon Way, would be attended with so many Difficulties, that we can on no Account recommend your making any Change in the Mode of Carriage & I have acquainted Mr. Silvertop with the same.-

      I shall make Enquiry for a proper Person likely to suit you as a Land Steward, but it will be necessary that I should be informed of the Salary that you are willing to allow. – Mr. W. Bates called on me yesterday with the Surveys & Valuation of your several Estates (except Winlaton which he cannot go upon ‘till the Snow be of the Ground) they appear to be very well executed; they (& the Bankers Account) shall be sent by the Leeds Coach on Tuesday directed to Mr. Bowns at Bretton who can forward the Box to you should you think proper, but it will be highly necessary that the several Tenants should have as early Notice as possible of the Advance which you expect on their Farms &c.

      I understand from Mr. Heron that for his Trouble on Account of the late Election, as well as preparatory to it (in Case of an Opposition) that he expected one Hundred Pounds, I have therefore paid him that Sum & taken his Receipt for the same; he is certainly very well paid, at the same time I did not think it advisable to haggle about the Matter, as it is a Charge once in seven years, and for other Considerations.  I am &c - --J.E.B.



If Coln. Beaumont should have a printed Abstract of the consolidated Duties proposed; I shall be obliged to him for one.-