Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 5 Dec 1800

Mrs. Beaumont					Newcastle 5th. Decr. 1800

Bretton near Wakefield Yorkshire				



Dear Madam

      I hope that you are well after your Journey, & found your young Folks perfectly so, you have got home in good time before the severe Weather set in; Allenheads is covered with Snow & we shall have it soon.-

      Mr. Bates called on me Yesterday with an Inventory of the Furniture which he said was lost or broke, (a Copy of which I enclose) I sent T.Crawhall to examine it with his Housekeeper & Genl.  Balfour’s Servant, & T.C. has made his Remarks on the several Articles; those Things that are really missing or broke must be replaced or mended, should this not satisfy Mr. Bates I would recommend it being left to the Decision of a proper Judge of those Matters, for I can not take it on myself, should the Difference be trifling altho’ very unhandsome of Mr. Bates to insist on ? will it not be advisable to settle the Matter with him, rather than have Dispute &c. with the Families of the Bates’s and the Ellisons, Mr. Bates was this Morning paid £163.16.- for 26 Weeks Rent of his House & Furniture from the first of June to the 30th. Novemr. for which he gave his Receipt but at the same time said that your Servants slept in the House three or four Nights before, & that Coln. Beaumont told him at Morpeth that he would Sleep there on Sunday Night the 1st. June.   Very shabby behaviour indeed.-

      I have made enquiry of Waters (one of the first Painters in this Place) respecting the Charge made by Stephenson for painting the Colours that you presented to the Hexham Volunteers; he thought the Charge exhorbitant , & that Stephenson would be handsomely paid with £30. - -the Sum that was offered him of which I shall acquaint Mr. Bell & return him the Papers; the pair of Colours which Mrs. Johnson presented to the NCastle Volunteers she got from London, they are well executed, & the whole Cost did not exceed £23. - - -

      The Quantity of Lead for Sale at Blaydon is small & the Season will not admit of much more coming down, I am at present selling small Quantities for the White Lead Works at this Place at £23.5—p[er] Fodr. Lithge £23.15s-d the Ton.-

      I shall be glad to hear that you had a good Account of Coln. Beaumont. – My Daughter joins with me in best respects to you. & I am &c. J.E.B.