Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 16 Oct 1786

Sir Thos. Blackett  Bart.                                              Newcastle    Octor.  16th. 1786

Bretton - Yorkshire



Dear Sir       I am favoured with your letter of the 9th inst. & am glad to hear that you had so Agreeable a jaunt to Liverpool & found your Son well.  

     When Mr Staniforth returns you will hear from him on the Subject & if it should not suit him to take Mr Thomas Apprentice himself he will recommend you to some other Person & give you his best Advice on that matter.  I observe what you say as to Purchasing the small Farm adjoining to your Land at Dukesfield & I have wrote to Mr Bell accordingly & recommended it to him to employ some proper Person to Purchase it, that it may not be suspected that it is for you, this farm, as well as that near Allenheads Mill are very Advisable Purchases for you.  A healthy Boy of about 10 or 12 Years of Age is thought to be the most eligable Life & such a Person I imagine may be met with in your Neighbourhood who is not likely to go into a Gentleman’s service.  Thos. Hepple has not been with me, tho’ I have wrote twice to him & sent a person to acquaint him that if he did not come in a few days the Allowance you give him shall be discontinued, so I expect to see him soon, but from the account that I gave Mr Ingham of his state of health, he recommends that you may exchange his life; I wrote to Mr Dew & made him an offer of 400 Guineas, I have had two letters from him wherein he refuses to accept of my offer & insists on having half the Sum which was paid in 1783 for putting in a Life, which is £656.5.-  this is too much & I wou’d not Advise you to Comply with it, especially considering the very Precarious state of the Bishops health.    If Mr Dew will consent to Split the difference & take £538.2.6 I would recommend it to you to Pay that Sum.  

                                                                          I am etc    J. E. Blackett