Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Mark Skelton – 29 Nov 1792

Mr Skelton Esqr                                                                                Newcastle    29th Novr 1792

             Birthwait Hall  near Wakefield  Yorkshire



D[ea]r Sir	Your favour of the 15th inst I recieved, the late very alarming Disturbance amongst the Seamen of this Port prevented me answering it so soon as I otherwise would have done, Matters have been accommodated between them & the Ship Owners & peace is restored for the present but how long we may remain in that State is I think rather uncertain, for the present Aspect of Affairs is certainly very unpleasant

	The Lead Stewards are with me a few days since for Subsistence for the Workmen, & some Wood Payments, & they recieved £3560 there was little alteration in the state of the Mines at that time; I had some Conversation with them respecting the proposed Scheme of bringing down the Lead, as well as the Ore, by a Waggon Way; they all, as well as every Person that it has been mentioned to, look on the Scheme impracticable considering the Country it must go through, the great length (above 40 Miles) as well as the immense expence attending it;  The Interest of the Money would far exceed the Annual Expence of the Carriage, exclusive of the Way Leave Rent for a part of the distence, & the keeping such a Waggon Way in Repair, which would be very considerable;  However as soon as the Season will admit of it, the Lead Stewards will take a View of that part of the Road, which they may think the most practical for it, & make their Report of the same.

	Mr Straker wrote to you & sent you the Accounts that you required.

	I hope that Mrs Beaumont recovers well, & that her little Boy thrives apace, which I shall be glad to hear, I imagine that the Family will be down at Bretton very soon, to whom please to present my best Respects:                                                    I am etc   J.E.B