Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 5 Feb 1801

Mrs. Beaumont 						Newcastle 5th. Feb.y 1801

under Cover to Coln. Beaumont

Portman Square London



Dear Madam

      I have the Favour of your Letters of the 30th. ulto. & 2d. inst. I was in hopes that your last would have informed me of the safe Arrival of Coln. Beaumont from Ireland; I had the favour of a Letter from him, wch. I delayed answering as I understood that he was about leaving the Country in a few Days.-

      Some of your Enquiries respecting Harehope Gill were answered in my Letter to you of the 28th. ulto. – Mr. Wilson the Rector of Wolsingham called on me at the Office this Morning, and I was very glad to find him so well pleased with the Award of the Arbitrators, which he said was (on the whole) more favourable than he expected, and that except the small part which he allowed had been very rich (and of which they had produced uncontrovertible Evidence of the Enjoyment) that a greater part was deem’d Copyhold than he had reason to expect, or indeed that you had at first claimed to be so, and that there was every Appearance of the Rich vein pointing towards the Copyhold; I acquainted him with what I mentioned to you in my Letter, respecting the Boundaries being settled by the Agent, after which your Agents (after taking a View of the Spot and considering the Matter fully) would make their Report to you of the most advisable Mode of working the Mine, and that he should be acquainted when your Agents took a View of the Place, as his Information and Advice would be necessary.-

      Some time since I desired Mr. Bell to fill up a Bond for the Amount of Mr. I. Hunter’s Debt dated 1st. Jan.y 1801; and to get it executed by him, I shall write to him again about it, and shall mention it to Mr. A. Surtees; the latter assured me that every necessary Care should be taken respecting the small Spot of Ground at Dukesfield Dam, before the Sale of the Estate.-I shall write to Mr. Bell my Opinion respecting Hexham Tithes. – The Rent of your 1/12th. of Stella grand Lease Colliery is £40. p[er] Annm. Mr. Silvertop was at Christmas last 9 Years in Arrear, which I assure you has not been owing to any Neglect in making Application for the Rent due, we have been put off from time to time, the Cause of which (altho’ Mr. S. does not avow it) is I apprehnd. a late Claim that he makes of a part of the Lands farm at Winlaton, an out Rent for which 17s. 6d. had for many Years been paid t the Owners of the Lands which had the Claim for that farm, which of late Years has been refusd. by Mr. S. tho’ regularly tendered to him by Mr. Mulcaster before a Witness; Miss Simpson annually receives an out Rent of 17s. 6d from you for the same farm; thus the Matter rests at present, the out Rent being annually tendered by your Agent and refused by his; but I strongly suspect that in Case of Colonel Beaumont’s executing the new Lease of the Colliery previous to his Rent being paid, that Mr. S. would say that he was ready to settle with Coln. Beaumont for that rent, provided he will do the like with him for the Lands Farm, but this Claim must be resisted and I do recommend that Coln. Beaumont do not execute the Lease of the Colliery, until the full Arrears are paid.   One great Objection to any Lease of Harehope Gill Mine being granted by you and Coln. Beaumont to the Lessees of Lord Burford would be that as they pay lower Dues to him, than you would oblige them to pay, they would be tempted to bring up the greatest part of the Ore at the Shaft on their side, and by that Means you would be defrauded of your Dues.-

      I continue selling from 100 to 1,000 Pieces of Lead for Exportation and the white Lead Works at £23.5 – and £23.10- p[er] Fo[dde]r. and Litharge at £24 “ – p[er] Ton, by which Means you will be sooner in Cash for the Amount, than by making no Sale until we had 5 or 10,000 Pieces ready.-

      About the middle of this Month I shall receive Bills at two Months date for about £3400.—which shall be paid to the Bank – I shall be happy to hear of Coln. Beaumonts Arrival in good Health. – I am &c. J.E.B.