Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 22 Apr 1782

Sir Thomas Blackett Barot                                                       Newcas   22d April 1782

   Great Russel Street   Bloomsbury

             London



Dear Sir

	I wrote you the 8th instant to which refer you.  I understand Mr C Blackett has wrote to you Complaining against me for not selling him a Quantity of Lead I must therefore take up a little of your Time to Explain that Matter.

	Mr C Blackett had sometime since enquired of me if I had any Lead to dispose of for the London Markett without naming any Quantity or offering a Price.  I told him I had not for the Quantity that I had sold him & Dr Hall was not at that Time at Blaydon, he then desired to be informed when I had a Quantity to sell.  I told him I should on his making Enquiry let him know when I should sell for Mr Richmond & myself have always thought it was more for the Interest of the Seller (when the Trade would admit of it) to be applied to & a price offered than to offer the Lead to Markett to all the Buyers.  On the 10th instant I was applied to by Dr Hall for 20000 ps Lead, he offered 16 3/4  for Common & £17 p Fother for refined Lead.  I declined selling that Quantity but entered into an Agreement with him for 10000 ps, equal Quantities.  My Object was to sell such a Quantity as would in a great measure fix the Price for the Year, at least prevent its dropping.  This was following the Line which the late Mr Richmond always pursued & which I am satisfied is for your Interest.  The Lead Carriage was every day expected to start, other Lead Owners might have closed with Mr Hall & on the whole I thought it an adviseable measure for your Interest & what I would submit to any Man of Knowledge in Trade.  When Mr Blackett heard of the Sale he applied to me for a Quantity at the same Price which I could not at this Time sell him till the former purchase or a great part of it was delivered or a sufficient Quantity come down to Justify me in making a Sale.  I should have had no Objection to have sold him a Quantity the latter End of next Month when we may expect a good Quantity down.  Mr C Blackett called on me at your Office this Morning by his appointment & to my Surprise brought his Brother Mr John Blackett.  I was alone & am sorry to say that I never met with such Treatment as I did from Mr C Blackett since I have been in Business & hope never shall again.  I think the more Buyers there are at Markett the better & have always avoided giving an undue Preference at the same Time I thought it adviseable to keep myself disengaged that when I thought it was for your Interest to sell a Quantity even to one Person by which means the Price would be fixed & supposed to be at Liberty to do it Your Interest being my first Object.  Was I never to sell a Parcel of Lead to one Person without making an offer of a Quantity to the other the Buyers would soon Combine & fix a Price which we must be under a Necessity of accepting, while there is a Jealousy amongst them that will not be the Case.  Mr C Blackett has thought proper to say that it has been my Endeavour to drive him from the Markett that I have treated him & his Friends very Ill and even told Mr Peart that both himself & Friends were satisfied that there was a private understanding between Dr Hall & myself & that we went Shares in the Commission.  A worse Thing could not have been said of me.  I detest the Action & flatter myself you will do me the Justice to believe what I say.  This disagreeable Business gives me much uneasiness & I hope when we meet to satisfy you that I have not merited such Treatment from Mr C Blackett for I again declare to you that it has never been my desire or wish to give anyone of the Buyers a Preference.

	I must do Mr C Blackett the Justice to say that he has fulfilled his Engagements with me for the Payment of the Lead as has Doctor Hall.  I have fixed the Lead Pays for the End of next Month.  The Amount will be £29790.                  I am etc         JEB