Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 13 Mar 1801

Colonel Beaumont 					Newcastle 13th. March 1801

Portman Square London				



Dear Sir



      I have been favoured with Mrs. Beaumont’s Letter of the 5th. & yours of the 9th. & 11th. inst.   I have made several Enquiries as to Labourer’s Wages; Mr. Walton informs me that G:[reenwich] Hospital pay 18d. a Day, but he expects that they must be advanced; at this place & Neighbourhood 2s/.d  & 2s/6d are paid, I have in Consequence wrote to Mr. Bell to pay the Labourers employed at the Abbey 1s/8d pr. Day & I wish (as Hexham is rather a dear Place) that they may be satisfied with those Wages: I have likewise repeated my request to Mr. Bell to draw up a proper Bond (as I am not accustomed in these Matters) for £900 at 5£ pr. Cent to be dated the 1st. Jan.y last and to get Mr. Isaac Hunter to execute it.   Mr. Bowns’s Opinion respecting the living of St. John Lee appears to me to be very judicious and proper; I have accordingly sent it to Mr. Bell with my Sentiments, wishing it to be carried into Execution.-

      I shall write again to Mrs. Forster and acquaint her that unless her bond be discharged in the Course of a Month, that Mr. Heron will have Directions to compell the Payment – 

      I have not yet had an Answer from the Agents of the Bishop of Durham respecting the Amount of the fine demanded on the renewal of the Lease of Kilhope, Welhope & Lintzgarth; when I have, you shall be advised of it; should we agree on terms I shall wish your Leave to insert the Life of your Son Thomas Wentworth.  I have desired Mr. Bell to get the Lead Yard ready as soon as possible, as the Lead will now begin to come down, and that at Hexham is laying in a very loose Manner; there will be about 2000 Pieces of Lead at Blaydon by the end of next Week; I was there this Morning to have some Discourse with Mr. Mulcaster on the Business of Allen Lead Mill, and the Lead Carriage, I yesterday sent Mr. Makepeace by the London Waggon (of which I advised him) one Piece of fine Silver of 1153 ½ Ounces which came from Dukefield; a Piece was taken of this Morning at Blaydon of about 770 Ounces which I shall weigh at the Office tomorrow morning, & send to Mr. Makepeace by the London Waggon on tuesday; another Piece from Allen Mill will be sent to him the week following, for which I expect that he will give the Market Price 6s/6d at least.   I had a Letter from Mr. Makepeace this Day which I have answered, but I can neither promise him one Piece monthly nor to let him have the Silver on the same terms that Langlands & Robertson of this place have paid, as Silver has had a considerable Advance lately.-

      Thos. Crawhall and R. Mulcaster went with Mr. Hunter to Blanchland (the most convenient place) and made the Pay on Monday for the Carriage of Ore and Lead amounting to £7250.-of which the Sum of £5200. -. was received of Messrs. Surtees Burdon & Co the Carriage Men were much pleased and I have no Doubt that your Lead Concern will find the Benefit of it.-

      No trials of the quick Lime have yet been made to ascertain the Benefit of it.-

      I send you enclosed the heads of the Lease of your 1/12th. of Stella grand Lease Colliery drawn up by Mr. Heron from Instructions given him by Mr. Silvertop, and likewise a Copy of Mr. T Gray the Lessor’s Viewer’s Letter to me with his Remarks, which I have communicated to Mr. Gray of Backworth one of the Proprietors (who is at present with Mr. Brandling at Middleton) and he agrees with me in objecting to execute the Lease unless the proper Clauses &c. be inserted; this I have acquainted Mr. Heron with, and desired that he would inform Mr. Silvertop of the same.   I observe what you say as to Mr. Bates’s demand I shall send T. Crawhall and again make a tender of the £4.0.3 and pay no further Sum.-

      Lead and Litharge continue at the same Price at present, but as the Summer advances and Lead comes down to Market, I am very doubtful of the Price keeping up, considering the Situation of the Country. – I am &c. J.E.B.