Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 14 Mar 1800

Colonel Beaumont						Newcastle 14th. March 1800

Portman Square London



Dear Sir

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 6th. inst. & observe the Contents.   The present failure of your Lead Mines is not owing to any natural impediments which sometimes arises, but to the Failure of the Veins, as well as the great Expence in Working some of the Mines accasioned by their great Depth & some Trials are making both at Coalcleugh & in Weardale in fresh Ground which I am informed are  promising & I hope may answer – Your Account with Messrs. Surtees Burdon & Co. that you sent me, on Examination we found some Errors, it was left with them to be rectified, they mislayed it & sent me the enclosed, which on Examination is found to be right, as far as the Transactions at this Place, as well as the Calculation of the Interest.   What Sums were paid to you I am ignorant of; I likewise enclose your Account with them as far as relates to the receipts & payments the last Year, they promised me to send you the last Months Accot. I have received from Messrs. Barclays & Co. the several Certificates of the Redemption of your Land Tax for the Hexham Estate &c which are to exonerate you from any further Payments for those Premises & they are sent to Mr. Bell for that Purpose.   I have not received any Certificate for the Winlaton Estate in the County of Durham from which I immagine that it has been delayed untill a Mistake which was in the Schedule of those in Weardale were rectified.   I wrote several Letters to Mr. Bowes of Darlington (in whose Department it is) without having receiv’d a Satisfactory Answer, & I have sent Thos. Crawhall to the Commissioners at Durham several Times without obtaining the Contract, I have made fresh Application to Mr. Bowes, likewise to the Commrs. & I expect soon to obtain it when it shall be forwarded to you. – I have no doubt that there will be Money enough sufficient to answer for the Pays in May next but untill I hear from your Lead Stewards, I cannot form a Judgement what may be the Amount of the whole. I am &c J.E.B.