Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Isaac Hunter – 5 Apr 1800

Mr. Isaac Hunter						Newcastle 5th. April 1800

Dukesfield near Hexham



Mr. Isaac Hunter

      The very great loss & inconvenience which has been occasioned by the Failure of the Lead Carriage in their Engagement, particularly the West Carriage at a Time the last year when they had it in their Power to have brought down their Lead to Blaydon, instead of leaving it at the Bankfoot and the great Quantity of Lead now resting on the Road has determined me on Advertising the Lead Carriage from Mayday next, & likewise of Appointing a proper Person with a sufficient Salary to have the sole Management and Superintendance of the whole of the Lead Carriage which will be a great Ease & Relief to you.

      There are at present upwards of 8,000 Pieces of Lead of 1799 at this Time on the Road (exclusive of that of 1798) as well as about 4,000 Pieces of Dukesfield, as to the Allen Mill, I have no regular Account of the Lead from thence & unless Sparke is more regular & exerts himself much more than he has done, I shall Discharge him at the next Pay; about 13 Pieces of WB Lead of 1798 was by Accident lately discovered amongst the Ling not far from Longley Mill it is probable that there were many more.   On Monday the 21st. inst Mr. T. Crawhall will be at Blaydon to pay the Carriage for such Lead as may have been brought down from the Time of the Pay in December to that Time.   I am &c. J.E.B.