Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 2 Apr 1800

Colonel Beaumont M.P.					Newcastle 2d. April 1800

Portman Square London



Dear Sir

      My last Letter to you was of the 14th. ulto. to which I refer you.Your Lead Stewards were with me Yesterday & received from me Subsistence Money for the Workmen amounting to £2750 - -  and I have paid the Candle Bills for the last Quarter amounting to £1050 - - without applying to the Bank; As near as I can calculate at present about £54000 - - - will be wanted to make the several Mine & Mill Pays on the 21st, 22d &23rd. of  May next (the Time I have fixed with the Lead Stewards) I expect to receive about £5000 - - - before the Pay for Lead, Litharge & Silver sold & we shall want about £49,000 - - - from the Bank of which I shall give them Notice; I shall receive Bills in May, June & July for the Lead that I sold the beginning of the Year amounting to about £20,000---which I shall pay into the Bank.   I expect this week to deliver pretty near the Quantity of Lead sold, when none will be left at Blaydon for sale; owing to the very wet Season last Year, the severe Weather since, & the Scarcity, & enormous Price of Provender, it has been impossible to get the Lead down to Blaydon notwithstanding the Advance offered to the Carriage, neither could they get the Ore brought down for the Supply of Dukesfield Mill which has been doing little or Nothing this year except the Wastes.  Blaydon Refinery has no longer supply than this week; we are using our utmost Endeavours to get some refinable Lead now on the Roads brought down, & I hope to get it effected, but the Badness of the Roads, & the few Seasonable Days for sowing have been a great impediment to its being done; One Carriageman has lost nineteen Galloways, and a Number of them from five to ten; you may be assured that no Means shall be wanting to forward this Business as much as possible.   Allenheads Mines continue poor, but Mr. Crawhall has hopes of their improving; Coalcleugh is likewise not productive, the Amount of that Pay much the same as last year, but a greater Quantity of ore has been raised; Weardale Mines are more promissing  particularly Midlehope & Breckonsike Veins, the Pay for these Mines will be about £3000 - - -more than last year, but the Quantity of Ore raised will exceed that of last year above 2000 Bings.   The Quantity of Ore at the several Mines will be considerable.   I now ask £25 the Fodr. for Refined Lead, & I expect to get it; Litharge £21.10 the Ton.   Inclosed I send you Copies of the Revd. Mr Wilsons Letter to me; & my Answer which Mr. Crawhall & Mr. Dickinson (who have taken a View of the Place with T.Emerson Jr.) approve of; the Dues of 1/6 we think is fair & reasonable considering it will be free from Tithe.   Mr. Emerson Senr. is better but not likely to continue long.   The Workmen at the several Mines are very well satisfied with the reasonable Supply of Corn which they have had, for which they are thankful; had it not been done in Time the Consequence might have been fatal; as the next Pay will be to the end of Septr. Last & the Workmen were not supplied till Novr. & Decr. no Deduction will be made from their Pay till next Year.   The Lead Company & Greenwich neglected to provide Corn in Time until it was too late to procure a Quantity, the Consequence is that they are obliged to advance their Workmen Money & they are at a great loss in supporting themselves & Families, for Corn is with Difficulty to be got in that Country  even at a very high rate.   We had about a Fortnight dry seasonable Weather for the Sowing, it has been succeeded by rain for those few days past but the Weather is mild.   I am &c. J.E.B.