Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to John Stephenson – 30 Oct 1785

John Stephenson Esq.     Hull                                                  Newcastle    Octor. 30th  1785



Dear Sir        I am favoured with your letters of the 14th  inst. & observe the Contents.  I am likewise favoured with a letter from Mr Breare inclosing a Copy of the Resolutions of the Mineral Society;  I am quite of your Opinion with respect to the sixth Resolution  relating to the Manufacturers of White & Red Lead, & on reading it I made the same remark; I wish that it had been omitted & am very doubtful of the Presidents being of any service to the Trade in this Business.   I am of Opinion that the Scots Lead being exempt from Duty by the Act of Union, the late Act of Parliament cannot make it liable to the Additional Duty by the Words of the Act, without the Consent of the Proprietors of those Mines.  Some of the Proprietors of the Mines in this Country being absent a Meeting cannot be held until the Middle or end of next Month, the Results of which you shall be informed of.

  On the late Advance of Lead at your Port & Stockton we call’d Refined Lead £16.10.0 p Fother   Common £16.5.0 p Fr. but I have not sold any at those Prices except a small quantity for the White Lead Works, the last 10,000 ps which I sold Lancaster & Co. is not yet Delivered nor any part of the 10,000 ps I sold to Freemens & Co.  I am of the Opinion that the present Prices of Lead cannot be supported & that after Xmas it must of Course fall, Messrs Lancaster & Co. having a large Quantity on their hands, will use their endeavours to keep up the Price but I do not think that they will have it in their power.             I am etc    John E Blackett