Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 27 Nov 1782

Sir Thos Blackett Barot                                                             Newcastle   27th Novr 1782

      at Bretton  



Dr Sir

I wrote you the 14th instant to which refer you.  I have lately had some Discourse with Mr Wilson Mr Bell & Mr Isaac Hunter about the Leases of Weardale Mines as well as those of the Lands.  We are all of Opinion that it will be to your Interest to get the several Leases renewed provided that can be done on reasonable Terms.  At present great part of these Mines are poor but Kilhope & Wolfcleugh (which are in those Leases) are doing very well and are promising & the rest of those Mines yield you very good Profit as the Price of Lead has been for sometime past.

	You have at present two Lives in those Leases.  John Trevelyan (Sir Johns eldest Son) & Thomas Hepple.  The latter is in a very bad State of Health & is at present in this Town under the Care of Mr Ingham, he does not drink but is in a low Melancholy Way & starves himself, he does not follow any Business but has £270 in your hands for which you pay him 5 p Ct, his Life is of that Consequence to you, which he is sensible of, that I thought it adviseable to get him Boarded in this Town where he will be taken some Care of.  The Person is to be paid 7s a Week for Meat Drink Washing & Lodging which I think will be scarce Sufficient & part of this must be paid by you.  he has got a swelled hand, has an ugly Cough & Mr Ingham thinks him in a very bad Way.   In Case of his Death the Bishop has a Power of granting a Lease to any other Person which Lease shall take Place on the Death of Mr Trevelyan.  This I was informed of lately & understand it is usual on those Occasions.  There is no Doubt but the Bishop would have a Number of Applications for Leases on that occasion; the Quakers Co in particular would make great offers as their present Mines are very poor & your Leasehold under the Bishop joins both Allanheads & Coalcleugh where a Number of new Trials would be made & some of them it is probable would Succeed wch would not only be of great Detriment to your Concerns in those parts but must interfere with you very much at this Markett.  The Bishop would very probably Close with some of the offers made him without acquainting you and giving you an Opportunity of treating with him.  On these Accounts I am strongly of Opinion it would be to your Interest to renew with the Bishop if it can be done on reasonable Terms.  When your Treaty with him broke off you offered 1000Gs for the Renewal of one Life.  The Bishop asked 2000 Guins.  He will now I think scarcely accept your former offer as he has already lost about £300 by the Interest of the Money.

	He may now possibly be glad to accept 1500 Guins for the renewal of one Life & I really think it would be for your Interest to give that Sum or even more rather than lose those Leases to your Family.  You have a greater Inducement on more accot than one to renew than Sr Wr Blackett had for he had only a Life Estate in them & was not obliged to leave more than 2 Lives.

	Hepples Life was then a very good one & the Price of Lead had been low for some time.  I have desired Mr Bell to come over here next Week & after having some Conversation with Mr Wilson Mr Bell is to go to Durham to ask the Bishops Agent some Questions with respect to the Leases of the Lands as to the Terms of Renewal etc.

	This can do no harm & it may open a treaty for the Renewal of the two other Leases of the Mines should it meet with your Approbation on which Account I beg you will favour me with a Line as soon as you have considered this Affair; after which I shall take such Steps as you think proper & should this Affair go forward it may be necessary for me to come over to Bretton for a few Days to talk this Business fully over for in the state of Health which Hepple is I think no Time should be lost.  Inclosed you have Copies of Mr Bells & Mr Hunters Letters on this Business.

	Since I wrote you last have sold Messrs Mosley & Airey 2000 ps C Lead at 17 3/4  & 400 ps refd at 18 p Fother & hope the Price of Lead may keep up.  I had a Letter from Messrs Richd Bell & Son of Hull desiring to know the Price of Lead with the Charges of Shipping etc & if I could supply them 5 or 600 ps in two or three Weeks.  I have acquainted Them with the Price etc & that I could not supply them with the Quantity till January.  There is no Lead at present but yours at this Markett on Sale.  I must keep some to Supply the foreign Comissions otherwise they would be drove to another market which might affect the Sale of your Lead in future.                                          I am etc    JEB

PS   Fine Silver is now 6s.5 1/4 d p oz