Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 1 Apr 1788

Sir Thomas Blackett  Bart.                                              Newcastle    April  1st. 1788

Bretton - Wakefield



Dear Sir       I got home the last week but I am apprehensive that I shall be under a necessity of going up to Town again on the same business in which Case I must be there the 12th April this will prevent me going to make the Several Lead Pays & has obliged me to make them a fortnight sooner than I intended.  The Lead Stewards are to be down here the 6th inst. receive the Money the next day & go to Dukesfield the 8th inst.  the Pays will Amount to £51613.16.4½.  When I was at London I had frequent meetings with Mr Lancaster Mr Freeman etc.  I was much press’d to dine with them but my time would not permit it, should I return? I shall certainly wait on them.  I put off making a Sale of Lead until I got home when I sold Mr C. Blackett 10,000 Ps. at £22.15 & £23 P Fodder   I expect to sell a like Quantity this week to Dr Hall at the same Price & likewise a Quantity to Messrs. Walkers Maltby & Co. what I have sold to Walkers Fishwick & Co. lately for their White Lead Works has been at the same Price.  Inclos’d  you will receive a Bill drawn by Eden Ridley & Co. on Castell & Co. of this date at a Month for £2000 the receipt of which be pleased to acknowledge.

    Notwithstanding Mr Harris was Elected by the Landholders of the Curacy of Weardale Chapel by a Majority of 51 yet by the representation of Mr Hardinge the Rector of Stanhope , the Bishop of Durham has Licenced the other Candidate Mr Clark; I waited on the Bishop several times before I found him at home.  I had near an hours conversation with him on the subject, but to no further purpose for he gave me so very little encouragement to contest the matter that I thought it advisable to drop the business as there appear’d to me to be little or no prospect of Mr Harris’s succeeding; I am indeed very sorry for him for he has much Merit, & has been a great sufferer.  It was thought that he was certain of success & Mr Brown provided himself with another Curate so the Poor Man is quite thrown out of Bread.  Mr Bell comes down with the Lead Stewards & goes with them to make the several Pays.   I am etc   J. E. B.





             £2000 .                               Newcastle Bank  1st.  April  1788

             One Month after date pay to the Order of John Erasmus 

             Blackett Esq.  Two Thousand Pounds                   Value received

                                   For Sir J. Eden  Sir MW. Ridley Cookson Widdrington & Co

To  Messrs Castell Powell Sumner & Co                           Thos. Gibson.           

                       London                                               Pay the Contents to the order 

No  12061                                                                 of Sir Thomas Blackett Bart. 

                                                                                     Value  in Acct.         John E. Blackett