Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Mark Skelton – 1 Mar 1794

M Skelton Esqr                                                                                    Newcastle  1st Mar 1794

Birthwaite Hall Wakefield  Yorkshire



Dear Sir	I am favour’d with your letter of the 26 Ulto and observe the Contents _ The 10 Tons of Lead and 4 Casks of Fume shall be sent by the first Vessel for Hull with the usual directions 

	The forms of the Rentals were deliver’d to the sev[era]l Agents, I have not yet rec[eiv]ed their Rentals, but they shall be wrote to about them.

	<A state> of the Case respecting the Debt due from Lancaster & Co was drawn up by Mr Heron and after being revised by Mr Williamson was sent up for Counsels Opinion & his Agent Mr Wilson had directions to wait on Mr Beaumont with the same, This Morning Mr Heron sent me a Copy of the Opinion a Copy of which I inclose you, should Mr Beaumont not have left London he will have his information from Mr Wilson.  It gives me Pleasure to find the Opinions so favourable to Mr Beaumont’s Claim _ I inclose you a Copy of a Lre [Letter] I rec[eiv]ed from Mr Fishwick whose Offer I declined, but there being large Stocks of Lead at Stockton and this place, very small demand and a falling Markett, I tho[ugh]t it advisable to accept of Mr Hewitson’s Offer for Lancaster House of £15-5 and £15-10 for 5000 p[iece]s Lead to be paid for in Bills on London due in 6 Months   I have since made Mr C Blackett & Mr Fishwick the like offer for the several Houses for whom they are named and I wait their Answer the latter has already agreed to take a smaller Quantity at that price & 50 Casks of Litharge at £16-10 per Ton at which price I have sold 50 Casks to Mr C Blackett.                  

      I am etc   J.E.B