Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Richard Wilson – 15 Sep 1802

Richard Wilson Esq.						N.Castle 15th. Sepr. 1802

Lincoln’s Inn Fields London				



Dr. Sir

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 10th. inst. I am happy to find that you think so favourably of the Cause with the Bishop of Durham.   I now send you enclosed an Acco.t of the Compositions pd. to the Bishop & to the Rector of Stanhope from the year 1781 to the year 1801 distinguishing when an Alteration took place & likewise a Copy of Mr. Williamson’s Opinion taken the 9th. Aug. 1792 on the Agreement entered into with the Bishop for his Lot Ore, which Opinion was taken in Consequence of the Death of Sir Thos. Blackett; I am inform’d (for no Application was made to me) that soon after which the Bishop being dissatisfied with the Agreement which he had entered into for his Lot Ore in the year 1791, that he took advice about setting aside that Agreement, but not on the Score of Fraud which he charges me with, in the Bill filed; not meeting with any Encouragemt. to proceed in the Affair, he dropt all further Claim till lately, when he now brings forward the Charge of Fraud: If all this Period it is thought a Fraud: Why was it not thought so at the Time that the Bishop endeavoured to break the Agreement, & (I am informed) too Advice for for that Purpose?

      You will be pleased to observe that the Agreement entered into with the Rector of Stanhope in the year 1792 for his Tithe Ore for the Sum of £900 p[er] year, was for the Term of seven years, at the Expiration of that term, the Mines being in a promising State, & the Rector complaining of the Smallness of his Composition for the former years, an Agreement was entered into with him for £1,500 - -. You will be pleased for the future to correspond with Mr. Wr. Heron in this Business.  I am &c. J.E.B.