Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 7 Apr 1802

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to 			Newcastle 7th. April 1802

Coln. Beaumont, Portman Square – London                                   



Dear Madam

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 2d. inst. enclosing Mr. Cockshutt’s Drawing & Description of the weighing Machine for the Lead Ore; I think it is a very ingenious & simple Invention, & I have no Doubt of its fully answering the Purpose proposed; that of a saving in Labour, and preventing Imposition. – Thos. Crawhall went on Sunday with Subsistence Money for the Workmen of the several Mines and Lead Mills & to make the Car[ria]ge. Pay.   I observe what you say respecting Mr. Paris & Mr. Warre having purchased Lead for the Rusia Market at £29 the Fodr. of 19 ½ Cwts. they must have had it of the London Houses; who at that Price put it free on board paying the Duty of £3-5-,, the Ton & other Charges.   The Repeal of the Income Tax will be a pleasing Measure to the Publick, particular to the trading part.   I do not hear the least Rumour of an Opposition for the County & hope that all will be quiet; it will be very necessary that every Charge respecting the two last Elections should be settled & cleared off, as we are on the Eve of another;  all the Expences were paid & carried to Account, except those of the Law to Mr. Williamson & the late Mr. Heron, the latter had a Sum of Money on Account, I believe about £130 - - (for T. Crawhall has the Book locked up) I have frequently made Application to the late Mr. Heron, as well as to Walter Heron to have the Business settled, & Mr. Williamson paid properly for the Trouble &c. that he had, which certainly should have been done by Mr. Heron long ago.   and now it becomes highly necessary that this Business should not be further delayed, & that Mr. Williamson should have a retaining Fee against the approaching Election; I wish that Coln. Beaumt. would write to Mr. Heron to hasten him to get the Business concluded: you will I hope excuse me troubling you with this Matter, which I would not have done had I not been answering your Letter. – 

      Pray is it thought a general Land tax is to be a Substitute for the Income Tax? – I hope soon to have a very pleasing Letter from Coln. B. – I am &c. J.E.B.