Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to John Bell – 28 Dec 1800

Mr. Jno. Bell								Newcastle 28th. Decr. 1800

Hexham Abbey



Mr. Jno. Bell

      I have been for some time past, much indisposed with a violent Cold & feverish Complaint which has confined me to the House, but I fully intended meeting the Lead Stewards at Hexham on the 29th. inst. – yesterday (and not before) Mr. Heron acquainted me that it would be necessary that Mr. Emerson Jnr., Mr. Allgood, Mr. Crawhall & the Witnesses respecting Harehope Gill, should be at this Place (where the Arbitrators are now met) on Tuesday the 30th. inst. this induced me to have the Lead Stewards to come down to this Town on the 29th. inst. Coln. & Mrs. Beaumont expects that Mr. Isaac Hunter will give his Bond for £900 - - the Sum that he is indebted to them, from the 1st. Jany. 1801 which Bond you are desired to prepare & get executed; you are likewise desired to speak to Mr Hunter about that very small Piece of the Steel Hall Ground adjoining to Dukesfield Dam, which the late Mr. Hunter promised you to make over to Coln. Beaumt. by Deed, and they have no Doubt of Mr. Is. Hunter’s fulfilling his Father’s Promise, and of his doing it before the Disposal of the Steel Hall Estate; this is a Matter to which I am quite a Stranger, not having been made acquainted with it till the other Day by Mrs. Beaumont when she left the inclosed Plan with me.-

      I understand that Coln. & Mrs. Beaumont on consulting with Mr. Bowns & Mr. Cockshutt have given up all Thoughts of purchasing the Steel Hall Estate, as well as the Land tax of Mr. Bosville’s Estate. – Mrs. Beaumont desires that the part of the Stable Yard near the Trough (where the Carriages will stand to be wash’d) may be carefully & well paved, the Coachman thinks that large Pebble Stones will stand better than small Pebbles. – 

      I am &c. J.E.B.