Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 6 Nov 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to                                      N.Castle Novr. 6th. 1803.-

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London.		



Dear Madam,

       I am favoured with your several Letters of the 31st Ulto. & 1st. Inst. enclosing Copies of Mr. Morlands Letter, & the Terms of Agreement with Messrs. Davidson Noel & Co. Bankers, Pall Mall: on the whole I think that the Terms are much more favourable to you & Coln. Beaumont, than those entered into formerly with the Bank of Surtees’ Burdon & Brandling, & I approve much of the same; I have had a Letter from Mr. Alexr. Davidson, acquainting me with this Matter, which Letter I have answered; Sir Wm. Loraine & Co. have likewise heard from Davidson & Co. on the Business, of which they require some little Time to consider; I have some Doubt whether they will agree to the Terms proposed by Davidson & Co, as it would greatly extend their Circulation of Notes, which at the present Time I understand is not desirable; At the Lead Pay as well as at the monthly Mine Payments, one half & probably two-thirds of the Notes instead of circulating as formerly, will now come back to them in a Week or ten Days, for which they are under a Necessity of paying Cash or Bills on London at a short Date, a Week or ten Days; this they have already experienced; the Balance at present in the Bank of Sir Wm. Loraine & Co in favour of Colonel Beaumont will not exceed £200 -; they have Bills which will become due the end of this Month, which may about answer for the Payments at that Time; the same will be the Case in Decemr.; I would beg leave to recommend, that the Balance should at that Time be finally struck, & the Amount, with such Bills &c. as I may possibly receive be remitted to the Bank of Alexr. Davidson, Noel 7 Co.: I observe what you say as to the Deposit of £9,000 – that you made with the Bank of Davidson & Co. & the Sum of £4,000 – wch. you had of Mr. Bosville, which is a most friendly kind Act; - I saw Mr. Burdon yesterday, he is much better, but looks very ill; when he first came down, after the Stop of his Bank, he proposed to me to be one of the Committee; I thought at the Time (circumstanced as I was) that there would be an Impropriety in my acting in that Capacity (notwithstanding some of the Gentlemen who compose the Committee are equally objectionable in other Respects) Mr. Williamson agreed with me in Opinion, on which Account I excused myself:   I do not at present see any Prospect of their Affairs being soon settled; they are at present using every Endeavour to call in their Effects.

       Easterby & Halls continue to carry on the Arkendale Mines under the Direction & Control of the Committee appointed, & the first Instalment will be paid the end of Decemr. by a Bill which shall be remitted to Messrs. Davidson Noel & Co. on Colonel Beaumonts Account; by Report those Mines continue in a very productive & promising State.-

       The Sale of the Lead Company was 10,000 pieces of which 1200 were refined, the greater part of the Rest small Pieces of 8 Sto; the Price £30-p[er] Fo[dde]r. payable in 6,9 & 12 Months; I have refused selling on those Terms, & hope ere long to obtain better.-

       I met your Lead Agents at Hexham on Monday with Subsistence Money for the Workmen and some Wood Payments. – The Workings in Weardale, much the same, except Breckonsike which rather falls off: Allenheads, the Bretton Vein rather poor: Coalcleugh much the same; there is Ore at the several Lead Mills to keep them employed till the Spring.

       I am sorry to find that both yourself & little Girl have been so much indisposed, & I sincerely wish that the Exercise & Change of Air, may have the desired good Effect on you both.   

       I am &c. –J.E.B.