Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to John Stephenson – 22 Jan 1786

John Stephenson Esqr.  Hull                                                    Newcastle    Jany. 22nd. 1786



Dear Sir       I am favoured with your letters of the 6th & 10th inst. wch. I should have Answered sooner, had I not been Confined to my bed for some days with a Rheumatick Complaint, wch. will not yet permit me to leave the House.  I am much obliged to you for the Information  wch. you give me respecting the Machine wch. is made use of for the Purpose of Clearing your Dock of Mud etc.  John Fawcett is the person who has made Proposals to the Corporation of this Place for the taking up of Sand & Mud out of our River, & a Committee is named to Confer with him on the Subject, but I am doubtful of its answering in the River Tyne, owing to the Strength of the Current, & the number of Keels almost Continually passing.  I can’t say that I have Great hopes of Success in our Application for the Repeal of the Lead Tax, but it certainly is Advisable to use every Means for the Purpose of obtaining it.  I observe that Messrs. L & Co. have stopt the Purchasing any more Lead at your Port at Present, that your Market is clean Swept, but that a Pretty large Quantity is expected from Yorkshire when the Rivers become Navigable which may lower the Price of £16.15.0 .  The Quantity at this Market at present is very small, & it will be May before the Lead Carriage will start in earnest.  I have made no Sales since I last wrote you except a few Hundred Pieces & those at the Old Prices of £16.5.  Common and £16.10.0 refin’d.  Should any Alteration take place in the Price etc you shall be acquainted.       I am etc   

                                                                        J. E. Blackett