Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Mark Skelton – 15 Oct 1793

M Skelton Esqr                                                                                Newcastle  15th Octor 1793

      Birthwaite Hall near Wakefield   Yorkshire



Dear Sir	I wrote to you the 10th inst since which there has been two Meetings of the Creditors of Walter Hall & Co who have at length come to a Resolution of taking out a Statue of Bankruptcy & Thos Robinson of this Place who is Creditor to a considerable Amount makes the Application; the Debt due to Mr Beaumont is £996-11-8 it will I believe be necessary that Mr Beaumont should give a Power of Attorney for the purpose of proving the Debts etc.

	I Yesterday made the several Sales of Lead as at the foot, which I hope may meet with the Approbation of Mr Beaumont, as well as yourself, I stood out for £16-10 for the Com[m]on Lead but could not obtain it, it was with some difficulty that they consented to the times of Payment.

	The Lead Co have lately sold to the House of Lancaster & Co & Walkers & Co 12000 p[iece]s of Lead (ab[ou]t 1000 of which are Com[m]on) at £16-10 per Fo[dde]r to be paid for in June and July next, and Mr Surtees has sold 2000 p[iece]s of Mr Errington’s Lead to Walkers & Co at £16 per Fo[dde]r.  I understand from Mr Dennis who has the disposal of Lord Pomfret’s Lead at Stockton that he would accept £17 for a large Quantity which is equal to ab[ou]t £16-5 the Newc[astle] Fo[dde]r.  I made Mr Fishwick an Offer for Walkers & Co of 10000 p[iece]s but he declined purchasing a larger Quantity on the present Terms.  In the situation that the Lead Trade is in at present it has been my Opinion that the first Sale that was made would be the best and I have no doubt that most of the Lead Holders will be under a necessity of Selling on lower Terms.

	When you write to Mr Beaumont please to present my best respects to them.

                                                                                                          I am etc  J.E.B

Mr Chris Blackett 7500 Ref[ine]d Lead 16 1/2  per Fo[dde]r  7500 Com[m]on 16 1/4  per Fo[dde]r and 1200 p[iece]s Slag at 16 1/8  per Fo[dde]r.

Mr Middleton Hewitson 5000 p[iece]s Ref[ine]d Lead 16 1/2  per Fo[dde]r  570 Com[m]on 16 1/4  per Fo[dde]r and 1000 p[iece]s Slag at 16 1/8  per Fo[dde]r.

Mr Fishwick 2500 p[iece]s Ref[ine]d Lead 16 1/2  per Fo[dde]r  2500 p[iece]s Com[m]on 16 1/4  per Fo[dde]r and 600 p[iece]s Slag at 16 1/8  per Fo[dde]r.



To be paid for by Bills on London the one half to be due on the 1th Apl and the remainder on the 1st May next.