Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 15 May 1802

Coln. Beaumont 						Newcastle 15th May 1802

Portman Square London				



Dr. Sir

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 12th. inst. & am happy to hear that Mrs. Beaumont & her little Boy are doing well. – Two of the Bishop of Durham’s Agents Mr. Mowbray & Mr. Cassells called on me on Friday & desired to be informed of the Quantity of Ore raised from the Weardale Mines during the time that the Bishop has been in Possession of that See, as he has reason to believe that the Sum that he had received as a Composition for his one Ninth or Lot Ore, was far from being an Equivalent to the sum that he was entitled to for his one ninth part of the Ore; I told them that the Agreement which the Bishop entered into I imagined would be binding on his Lordship; they seemed to think that the Agreement entered into with the late Sir Thos. Blackett could not be binding on the Bishop & produced a Letter from him to Mr. Mowbray saying that he was induced to enter into it on the solemn Assurance of Mr. Blackett that the Sum offered was a full Compensation for his Dues of one ninth of the Ore, & that he expected to have a fair Account from your Books of the Quantity of Ore raised from those Mines during the time that he has been in Possession of the See of Durham.

      I gave a positive denial of having made any such solemn Declaration & told them that I should acquaint you with the Bishops Demand & let Mr. Cassells know your Answer; I have mentioned this Matter to Mr. Williamson who goes from home tomorrow, but I shall be with him on Tuesday Morning when the Agreement with a State of the Case (which I have drawn up) shall be laid before him for his Opinion which you shall be informed of, & in the Interim should the Bishop or his Agent Mr. Mowbray (who is going up to town) make any Application to you on this Business, please to refer them to me until we have got Mr. Williamson’s Opinion, without letting them know that his Opinion will be taken; this Claim of the Bishops has surprized me very much, he is I imagine put on it by Mr. Mowbray, but it is very disgraceful to him; if I can get the Opinion on Tuesday, you shall hear from me by the following Post.   

      I am &c. J.E.B