Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 25 Sep 1781

Sir Thos Blackett Bt  Bretton                                                          Newcas  25th Septr 1781

            near Wakefield  Yorkshire



Dear Sir

	Mr Chrisr Blackett called on me a few Days since & acquainted me that he had some Conversation with you on the Lead Trade.  that you had consented to sell him Lead & likewise to recommend him to Messrs Lancaster & Co as a proper person to purchase Lead for them;  As to the first I shall certainly sell your Lead to whoever you think proper at the Markett price but I would by no means advise you to recommend Mr Blackett to Messrs Lancaster to do Business for them as I am satisfied it cannot answer any good Purpose for your Interest & it is what Sir Wr Blackett & the Persons concerned for him always avoided interfering in.  I do assure you the Doctor Hall has always done Business with me in the most fair open manner, the scarcity of Money of late owing to the War has obliged me to give longer Credit than formerly & he has I must own rather exceeded it of late.  but as the demand for Lead is now brisker I shall keep him to his Engagements.  As to the Sales of your Lead I will answer for it that the Prices are equal & sometimes Exceed those of the Lead Company or any other Proprietors at this Port & I am most thoroughly satisfied that it will not be for your Interest to interfere the least in the Recommendation of any Person to purchase your Lead.  If Mr Blackett should apply of himself to Messrs Lancaster or any other Persons to do Business for them you have nothing to do with it & he has a right to make any Application of that kind.  There are Persons at this Place who purchase Lead for Messrs Freemans of London & I have dealt with them but I prefer doing Business with Dr Hall as being more punctual & Safe & the Lancasters have always instructed Dr Hall with a fuller power than the Freemans gave Mr Sorsbie;  he was always much more backward in his payments than Dr Hall & there is £800 which has been due from him to Sir Wr Blackett & his Executors for these 8 Years & I have got his Sons Bond for the Sum but am doubtfull whether he is able to pay It.  After saying this you will Judge whether you think it advisable to take any other Steps in this Business.

	On the 12th instant I sold Dr Hall 2500 ps of C Lead at 15.2s p for & 2500 ps refd Lead at 15 3/4  which parcel is not yet come down to Blaydon; but as the roads are mending I hope to have it down soon.  when we have more to Sell I shall ask £15.15s & £16.0s & £16.5s 0d for Litharge.  I have got Bills from Dr Hall for £5000 at 2 months date & expect at the End of next month to have £5000 more                               I am etc     JEB