Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Richard Burn – 17 Jun 1791

Richard Burn Esqr                                                                  Newcastle  June 17th 1791

  Duke Street   Westminster



Sir	Being informed by Mr Brooks that you transack business for the Lord Bishop of Durham, give me leave to acquaint you that I am concerned for my relation Sir Thos Blackett Bart who holds Leases of Lead Mines in Weardale in the County of Durham under his L[or]dsh[ip] for which he pays an Annual rent to the B[isho]p of £150 exclusive of which his L[or]dsh[ip] is entitled to the Lot Ore (One Ninth Part) for w[hi]ch a Composition has been accepted of according to an Agreement entered into for that Purpose during the time that B[isho]p Egerton had the See the Compos[itio]n was £350 per Annum, in 1787 the Mines being in a good state & the price of Lead £20 per Fo[dde]r the Compos[itio]n was advanced to £850 per An[num]: the Mines are at present not so productive & the price of Lead is £19 per Fo[dde]r _ from the time of the late Bishops death the Lot Ore of those Mines is separated & will be so until this matter is settled, but the doing it being attended with delay & inconvenience induces me on the part of Sir T.B. to make an offer to the Lord B[isho]p of Durham of the same Sum (Viz) £850 per An[num] as a Composition for the Lot Ore of the Weardale Mines

	When his L[or]ds[hi]p has informed himself  fully & taken this matter into consideration you will be pleased to favour me with an Answer                    I am etc    J.E.B