Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 31 Jan 1802

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to 			Newcastle 31st. Jan.y 1802 –

Coln. Beaumont Bretton Wakefield Yorkshire			



Dear Madam

      I have been favoured with your several Letters of the 25th. & 28th. inst. in Consequence of the Latter, I shall endeavour to engage Mr. Lawson to take a View of your several Estates, & to value the same, Coln. Beaumont & you may be assured of his Abilities for the Purpose, as well as his Integrity: - I observe what you say respecting Mr. Bosville’s Agent Mr. Hall and I think that you judged very properly on the Occasion: - what you mention respecting Mr. <J>. Bell surprizes me, his Conduct on the Occasion has certainly been very improper & I much disapprove of it: exclusive of the good Opinion that I have of Mr. Lawson, I should prefer him to a Stranger on Account of his known Skill & Integrity, which has great Weight & Influence with the People of the Country. –

      I observe what you say respecting Harehope Gill Mine I had a Letter from one of the Lessees yesterday, desiring to have an Answer to the Proposals that they made for a Lease of a part of the Copyhold; I shall through your Agents (Mr. Emerson & Mr. Crawhall) inform them that you expect one full sixth part of the Ore, they satisfying the Rector for his Tithe, in such Manner that he may have no Claim on you, & likewise stipulating that a certain Number of Workmen shall be kept employed at that part of the Mine agreeable to the Clauses in Leases of the kind; when I have their Answer you shall be informed.   I send you enclosed Copy of Mr. Emm’s Letter & by the Leeds Coach tomorrow, the Leases & the Counterparts of Kilhope & Welhope &c. likewise Power of Attorney to be executed by Coln. Beaumont  & returned to me, you will receive in the same Parcel the Banker’s Account of Contracts for December Quarter.-

I was not a little surprized at a Letter which I recd. from Mr. Allgood (a Copy of which I enclose you) the Notice is short, & I think very unhandsome, but he certainly will be no Loss to your Concern; it will be necessary that an experienced Miner, a steady Man of good Character should be engaged in Allgoods Place as soon as possible, but as that may possibly be attended with some Difficulty, I will have some Discourse with Mr. Emerson & Mr. Crawhall on the Business, & get the Assistance of Geo: Crawhall until a proper Agent can be engaged for the Purpose.-

With the Approbation of Coln. Beaumont & yourself I would recommend that T. Crawhall & Sons should supply the Weardale Mines & one half of Coalcleugh Thos. Emerson the other half of Coalcleugh and Allenheads Mines with Candles: I am quite of Mr. Cockshutt’s Opinion respecting Stublock Colliery. – 

      Mr. Hunter has not paid any part of his Bond for £900  the Estate of Steel Hall is not yet sold, neither have the Payments for his Share of the Brewery at Alstone become due.-

      The Newtons have not yet settled & cleared off the Ballance of their Account.-

      The last Lead Carriage Pay has been made; the Allen Mill Carriage Pay will be made next Week, & that for Dukesfield in March, these early Payments will be of great Service to the Carriagemen & will have a good Effect: on a close Examination we find that there is no Deficiency in the 8 stone Pieces of Lead from Rookhope, & only 10 Pieces from Dukesfield unaccounted for at present, which if not brought in before the Carriage starts, shall be paid for by the Carriagemen.-

      In a few Days I shall pay Mr. C. Blackett for the Gunp[owd]er. he making the Allowance of Discount agreed on: these several Payments will greatly reduce the Am[oun]t. of the Lead Pay in May next. I shall acquaint Mr. C. Blackett with what you mention respecting the Paint, I suspect that the Fault may not be in their White Lead, but in Steavenson the Painter; the higher the Price of the white Lead, the greater Temptation there is for Fraud by mixing Whitening with the Paint, which is too frequently done by the Painters.-

      The last Lead that I sold was about 500 pieces at £25 – 10 – ‘’ p[er] Fo[dde]r. there are at Blaydon about 5,000 ps. ready for sale at present, I ask £26 - - p[er] Fo[dde]r. which I  may possibly get before new Lead comes down to Market, but then I apprehend that it must drop, for I am well informed that Lead is at this time lower in France than in this Country.   

      I am &c. J.E.B.