Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to John Trevelyan – 24 Nov 1781

Sir John Trevelyan  Bart.                                                  Newcastle  Novr.  24th  1781



Dear Sir     Your two letters of the 16th & 23rd  I received at Buxton, where I staid ten days & found Great Benefit from the Water & Bathing,  We took Bretton & Ripon in our way home where we have been about ten days.  The Two Pattent churns were sent here lately, but I have not yet received the Bill for them, the Winnowing Machine will not be finish’d these three weeks, it will be a very complete one of the kind, & when ready shall be shipt in one of my Vessels for London, with the Churns & Cask of Lead Fume, directed as you mention in your last, of which I shall advise you, the Price of the Fume is 24s p[e]r C[w]t.   I have since advanced it to 16/. p[e]r Cwt: it may be grownd by a Labourer on a smooth flag stone or Marble, but requires Elbow grease & a good deal of Oil & when well laid on will stand more than Double the time of the common Paint.   Mr. Turner was with me this week & has paid me £1760 on Accot. of Wallington, Longwitton & Ord rents; we had a meeting with Brown & Rawlins & made them an offer of an Abatement of £20 per Year for the Colliery,  but no allow  during the remainder of the term, but no allowance what ever for the farm, this offer they did not accept of, but desired that I would represent to you the loss that they suffered by the Colliery which they said was £50 per year at least, & as they had a power by the Lease to give up the Colliery & Farm off their hands at May day next, They giving you an offer of the materials of the Engine at a valuation, I told them that it was not likely you would accept of these terms but you should be aquainted with it & I would let them know your answer;  I have no doubt that they are loosers by the Colliery, but I think the offer you make them is very handsome & I would by no means advise you to accept of their proposal. 

      Mr Swinburn of Longwitton died the other day after a short confinement; by the articles of Purchase his Widow has the house & Gardens for her life provided she resides there which I understand she intends doing; from the time of his death she is to be paid £900 per year of the Interest money, the other £100 is to be paid to his Executors but in case she is left Execut[or] the £100 is to be paid to her, on a proper receipt being given on which reason I have consulted with Mr. Heron; Inclosed you have a copy of  a letter that I received from Mrs. Swinburn this afternoon; I imagine you will not comply with her request as it cannot be done without great inconvenience, as well as loss to yourself.  Sinclair your Tenant for the Park has left the Country, & its said is gone to Scotland & dispos’d the small estate he had, you have already lost one half years rent & as the Proceedings in Chancery are so slow & you have only an Article, I think it will not be advisable for you to proceed further against him but to endeavour to bring him to some terms, but if that cannot be done to sit down with the first loss, to take Possession of the Park, & to advertise it to be let as soon as possible, & the new Tenant may probably enter on it imediately; This is Mr. Herons’s sentiments as well as mine, & Mr. Turner is to endeavour to see Sinclair & get him to make some proposals.  I have paid £30 on Accot. of the Wall etc. building for the Security of your Fisheries at Ord which I hear is going very well on.  

      I have had notice to pay Mattw. Lee the £200  he being of age which I shall  do next Month  & shall likewise Doctor Dechair the £1000 at the time he mentions, of which I shall aquaint him.  I am pleased to find that you think seriously of this Country etc     I am very glad to hear that you have had so pleasing a Account of your Son from Viena, & hope that he his at this time perfectly well at Rome.  I am yours etc  J E B.