Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to George Brooks – 21 Mar 1787

Geo. Brooks Esqr. under Cover                                            Newcastle    March  21st. 1787

to Richd. Master Esqr.  Banker MP.  - Chancery Lane.   London

[partly obscured by red tape and wax seal:]       A



Sir       I am favoured with your letter of the 19th inst & observe that you had laid my letter, to you, before the Bishop of Durham & that his Lordship waived the Offer made him of the Old Composition because he thinks it insufficient, but is ready to receive Propositions on the part of Sir Thos. Blackett, if we choose to furnish him with an account of the Value of the Lot Ore for a number of Years last past that he may be able to form his judgement upon; I shall acquaint Sir Thos. Blackett with his Lordships Answer, but I do not think that Sir Thos. will give more for the Lot Ore for altho’ more Ore has been wrought within these late Years than formerly owing to the encouragement in the Price of Lead (wch. is very fluctuating) yet was the Lot & Tithe Ore to be taken in kind there would not be that inducement to make fresh trials & not one half of the quantity would be wrought; for some Years the late Sir Walter Blackett, & for a couple of Years, Sir Thos. Blackett, lost money by the Weardale Lead Mines which may be the Case again, & at a time when the Bp. of Durham & the Rector of Stanhope took their Lot & Tithe Ore in kind they were both sufferers by it, & were convinced that it was for their Interest to Compound; The Lot Ore has been kept separate since the death of the late Bishop & shall continue to be so, until this Affair is settled in some shape wch. should there not be a prospect of doing by the Old Composition we must be under the necessity of laying off all the fresh trials & working only a few things wch. are the most Promising; For the reasons above mention’d an account of the the Value of the Lot Ore for a number of Years past cannot answer the Purpose of forming a judgement on the Matter.                         I am etc    J. E. B.



[Note in margin written sideways and  partly obscured by red tape and wax:] 

In Chancery       A

The Honourable and Right the reverend Father in God Shute Lord Bishop of Durham Complainant  

Between                          and 

Thomas Richard Beaumont and Diana his Wife           Defendants 



This paper writing marked A was produced and shewn to John Erasmus Blackett a witness produced on the part of the Defendants in this cause and by him deposed unto at the time of his Examination before us.  

    James Lo<ck/sh>	    Walter Heron	    Samuel Castle	    J. <Ward…>

26th March 1805