Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to James Cockshutt – 11 Dec 1801

James Cockshutt Esqr.					Newcastle 11th. Decr. 1801

under Cover to Coln. Beaumont Yorkshire



Dr. Sir

      I wrote to you the 7th. inst. to which I refer you; I have since been favoured with your Letter of the 1<0th/st> inst. the Remarks & Recommendations in your Letter to Mr. Mulcaster & Mr. Crawhall appear to me to be very judicious & highly proper; I hope that as far as it is possible, that they may be carried into Execution; the very bad State of the Ore sent from the Mines has been a growing Evil; I have long complained of it to the Mine Agents & done what was in my Power to remedy this great Evil, which has had some Effect, but not so full a one as I wished, and it becomes highly necessary that some Method should be adopted to prevent so great an Imposition which must be attended with a very heavy Loss to the Concern; the Mine Agents certainly have not paid that Attention to the Fraud committed by the Washers (in concert with the Miners) nor to the Neglect as well as the Connivance of the under Agent, which it was their Duty to have done, and some of them from their Wish to Increase the Quantity of nominal Ore from the Mines under their Inspection have permitted it to be sent to the Lead Mills in a very foul State, not considering the very great Loss (in many Shapes) which must attend it; the Ore from Allenheads has been sent from the Mines in a much cleaner State than that from the other Mines, owing to the Attention paid to it by Mr. Crawhall, & the Workings being in a narrow Compass.   The Mode which you propose for the remedy of this Evil (could it be carried into Effect) would certainly answer the Purpose, but I have my Doubts of its being practicable in the Extent wished for.-

      A Box & Case of very fine mathematical Instruments came from J. & E. Troughton’s London, lately, directed to me, which I immagine you have been kind enough to procure for Coln. Beaumont’s Mines; as I have not recd. any Letter with the Charge for the same, I shall be glad to be informed of it, that I may remit the Amount.   I am &c.- -J.E.B.