Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 10 Aug 1803

Colonel Beaumont				Newcastle 10th. Augt. 1803.

Worthing, Sussex

			

Dear Sir

       Mr. Cockshutt & his Niece Miss Bland came to this place the 4th. Inst. they dined with me the day following & went to Wylam on Saturday; Thos. Crawhall went with Mr. Cockshutt to the several Mines & Mills on the 8th. where Mr. Mulcaster was to meet them, as was Mr. Thomas at Hexham, and I expect them back on Sunday. – We had a Report that the Workmen had all stopt work in Consequence of the lending Money being reduced & were mischieveously disposed which alarmed me very much, & Mr. Cockshutt undertook to speak & reason with them, & to acquaint them that 40s/.d lending Money was the Sum that we could allow them every two Months: this Morning a Deputation of the Workmen came down with the inclosed Petition & behaved with the greatest Decency and Propriety. – On fully considering their Case as to the Difficulty & Charge they must unavoidably be under at this Time in providing Substitutes not only for the Militia but the Army of Reserve, I have promised them to represent their Case to Mrs. Beaumont & you, & that I had little Doubt of their Request respecting the lending Money being complied with by having 60s/.d p[er] 2 M[onth]s. as usual the next lending Day the 24th. Inst. and 30s/.d p[er] Month after; I convinced them of the Impossibility of making the Pay at Christmas, but should recommend to you, that on making it at May next that they should be paid to the 31st. Decr. next instead of 30th. Septr., with Respect to increasing their pay by the Bing for the ore, I told them that it, as well as the working of such Mines as may be thought advisable at the present Time, must be left to the Discretion of the Agents, taking into Consideration the Price of Lead as well as the Demand, they went away very well satisfied, & had not the least Doubt of its being so to the whole.

       Mr. Crawhall & Mr. Emerson with Mr. Walton & his Agent Mr. Dickinson, go on Monday to examine the State of the Arkendale Mines, & to make their Report to the Committee.

       No Report is yet made as to the State of the Bank of Surtees’ & Co.

       No Demand whatever for Lead, & I fear that the Price must drop.-

       Inclosed you have a Copy of my Letter to Mr. Bowns.   I am &c. J.E.B.