Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 12 Dec 1793

Thos Richd Beaumont Esqr                                                               Newcastle 12th Decr 1793

    Bretton Hall near Wakefield Yorkshire



Dear Sir	I am favoured with your Letter of the 9th inst and shall agreeable to your directions subscribe for you £200 towards the intended Road from Burtreeford to Fadstone West of Alstone which Sum with your former Subscription of £100 to the Road from hence to Burtreeford will compleat your original Subscription towards that Road

	I observe what you say respecting the Conversation that you had with Mr Bell the Subject of which rather surprises me; What reports there may have been in the Country relative to the matter I cannot pretend to say nothing however of the kind has come to my Ears, nor am I sensible that you have given cause for surmises of your having formed an unfavourable Opinion of your Agents; I fancy such reports have been propagated which may have given uneasiness to them?  I shall when I next see your Agents Communicate to them your Sentiments on the Subject and endeavour to remove any ill grounded Alarms that they may have been under on that Account _ My Opinion of your Agents you are already acquainted with so it will be needless for me to say more on that Subject farther than this: that I have a high Opinion of Mr Bell’s Integrity which I have experience[e]d for a Number of Years, he is thoroughly acquainted with your Affairs in this Country and has your Interests warmly at Heart; If any Reports have given him Cause to suspect that your Opinion of him was not so favourable (however ill grounded such Reports may have been) his warmth of temper and consciousness of his own Fortitude may have given him uneasiness on that Accot, but I hope that every thing of the kind will be removed as it certainly is necessary that a proper Confidence should be placed by you in such Agents who have the Management and conduct[in]g of your Affairs entrusted to them.

	I refer you to Mr Heron as to the Affairs of the Hall’s and the most advisable means to be pursued in that business.  No demands for Lead at present neither for the London or Foreign Marketts and was the price to be dropt I don’t think it would ans[wer] the purpose     I am etc		J.E.B