Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 15 Oct 1790

Sir Thos Blackett  Bart                                                           Newcastle  15th Octor 1790

    Bretton  Yorkshire



Dear Sir	I wrote to you the 7th ins[tan]t to w[hi]ch I refer you _ I now inclose you Eden Ridley & Cos Bill on Castell & Co of this date at a Month for £2000.  The Receipt of w[hi]ch please to acknow[led]ge _ next month I shall make you a further remittance

	You may remember that in 1786 we were in treaty with the late B[isho]p of Durham for the exchange of Thos Hepple’s life in the Lease of Weardale Lead Mines the B[isho]ps’ Agent agreed to accept of £538-2-6 for the same but being informed that Hepple was in a bad state of health the Agreement did not take place & the B[isho]p died soon after _ Hepple will be 57 Yrs of Age in Novr next, his health is declining & you pay for his Board & Lodgings about £23 per Y[ea]r & 5 per Cent for £250 of his money that you have in your hands _ As the B[isho]p of Durham is in a very dangerous way & its thought he cannot recover, it certainly will be adviseable for you to get Hepples life exchanged, as its likely to be done at this time on much more reasonable terms than hereafter by the B[isho]p that may succeed to the See of Durham, & in case of Hepples death £1400 at least will be demanded for the renewal of a life _ Should this meet with your approbation I will immediately enter into treaty with the B[isho]p for the exchange of Hepples life, in w[hi]ch case it will be necessary that a Certificate should be sent to me that Jonn Depledge (one of the lives in the Lease) is living & in health, w[hi]ch Certificate should be signed by the Minister of the parish & by a Physician or Surgeon, I shall procure the like of Mr John Trevelyan, the other life; it will likewise be necessary that you should be prepared with the Name age & place of residence of such person who you may think proper to put in as a life in the name of Thos Hepple _ Would not one of Mr Wilsons Sons be a good life?  They are very healthy lads _ Should the B[isho]p demand a larger Sum not exceeding £700 I should think it advisable to agree with him: I mention this to prevent any time being lost in the concluding this business            I am etc  J.E.B