Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 13 Aug 1803

Colonel Beaumont					Newcastle 13th. August 1803

Worthing, Sussex.-    			



Dear Sir

       I wrote to you & to Mrs. Beaumont on the 10th. Inst. & I have this day been favoured with your Letter of the 16th. Inst. from Worthing.-   I observe that you are in daily Expectation of being called upon, in Consequence of the Offer which you had made to Government, which had been accepted of, which with the Shortness of the Time, would not admit of your being at the Country Meeting at Alnwick on Wednesday the 17th. Inst. which I understand is for the Purpose of taking into Consideration the Defence of the Country &c; An Address to the King went from the high Sheriff, Grand Jury &c. last Tuesday, and Yesterday there was a full Meeting of the Deputy Lieutenants at Alnwick on the aforesaid Business.   The Duke of Northd.  (excepting his Lameness) is in good Health, & I understand that he intends making some Stay at Alnwick Castle.

       Mr. Cockshutt is not yet returned from the Mines; I hope that his Report may be favorable, he goes the next Week to Alnwick Castle, on some Business with the Duke.

       The Price of Lead is kept up by the Lead Co. and myself at 32 & 33 but we have no Demand, and the little there is at present, is supplied by the Hull & Chester Markets, which are so much lower.

       I had this day a Letter from my Friend Mr. Meason at Edinburgh, a considerable Lead Proprietor, saying ‘I always thought that they had got the Lead too high I don’t see how it can stand, or where the Demand can come from, as we are shut out from all the World; if it is true that they will want none for India I don’t see where it can be sent; the Petersburgh Market I suspect is overstocked: I wish the Price could be maintained at £30 – but no Body is asking about it.’

       Mr. Chapham from the ArchBishop of York called on me a few Days since respecting the Application made to Mrs. Beaumont & you by the Revd. Mr. Richardson of the Chapel of Nine Banks, who had by obtaining of Queen Ann’s Bounty, agreed for the Purchase of a Copyhold Estate within the Manor of Hexham, which Mr. Bell (for Reasons that he alledged) objected to its being carried into Execution, in Consequence of which you had some Application from the Arch Bishop; I consulted Mr. Williamson on the Matter, & I could not find from him that there could be any reasonable Objection made to the Transfer of the Property, as it will continue Copyhold, & be subject to the same Claims &c.   Richardson (owing to his Ignorance once) wrote you a very improper Letter, but I understand that there cannot be any well founded Objection to his being admitted a Copyholder under the Manor.   I am &c. - - - J.E.B.