Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 28 Mar 1778

Sir Thomas Blackett  Barot                                                          Newcas  28th March 1778

   Bretton near Wakefield



Dear Sir

	Your Letter of the 5th instant was forwarded to me to Scotland.  I got home on Monday & had an agreeable Journey tho the Weather was very unfavourable.  I observe what you say with respect to the offer Mr Heron made you.  I shall Consult with Mr Wilson & if the old Bank will not let you have the Money at 4 1/2  p Ct we must take the Sum up at the other Bank & pay them off.  I really think the Valuation made by your Lead Agents with the Assistance of other Agents & Workmen was equitable and fair, that Mr Fawcett & Mr Wilson went through the whole minutely & made a reasonable & just Report.  The Materials and Utensils made use of by Sir John Trevelyan at the Lead Mills & Refinery were not valued till he had finished the Smelting & Refining of his Lead.  The Rent of the Buildings from the Time of Sir Walter Blacketts Death maybe settled; In case you had been deprived of the benefit of the Engines at that period your Mines at Coalcleugh and Allanheads would have been lost so that it was certainly for the mutual Advantage of both Parties.  No offers have been made for the Purchase of your House and Ground since I wrote you nor indeed do I see any Prospect of it at the Price you have fixed; for my own part I have no thoughts of going into an Understanding of that kind but I sincerely wish you Success in the Sale.  The other day the Remaindr of a Lease of 21 Years (of which 15 are to go) of a House Quay & Wharf Adjoining your Premises at Blaydon was put up to Sale.  it might have been attended with great inconvenience if not worse had it fallen into hands that would have erected Buildings for Refining etc.  You wanted Room on your Quay for Iron & Timber going to your Mines.  You had not a proper place to contain any Litharge & was liable to have it damaged on any sudden flood.  I consulted with Mr Wilson & on those Considerations we thought it adviseable to purchase it for you if it could be had at a reasonable Price.  I bought it for £122.  The Agent for the Lead Company offered £120 & now blames himself much for not going further.  Messrs Ridley & Simpson the Owners & the Annual Rent is £2.2s.0d, the late Proprietor expended a considerable Sum in Building the Quay & House.  I hope you will approve of what we have done.  No more of your Lead is yet come down to Blaydon owing to the badness of the Roads.                                   I am etc   JEB