Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 23 Nov 1795

Thos Rd Beaumont Esqr M.P.					 NewCastle   23d Novr 1795

   Portman Square  London



Dear Sir	I wrote to you on the 21st Inst in answer to your Letter by that days Post, which I hope that you have communicated to Mr Burdon, that he may acquaint the Bishop of Durham how very ill founded those complaints, & clamours were which had been industriously spread against you, without the least foundation of truth; had there been a cause for that Charge?  & the Bishop who receives £1100 per Ann[um], & the Rector of Stanhope £900 arising from those Mines) had contributed to the relief of the necessitous Workmen?  in that case the poor Workmen, as well as the Public, would have cause of Complaint against you; but it is quite otherwise, as I acquainted you in my last letter;  Notwithstanding what you have done towards the relief of the Miners & Smelters owing the time of the high price of Corn (which example neither the Lead Company, nor any other Proprietor have followed that I have heard of) the Miners & Smelters of your Works stopt the Works & some of them (I believe from Rookhope) committed some depredations by seizing a cart with Flour & Oat Meal which they disposed of at their own Price, for which (on Information being obtained) I hope some of them may suffer.  The Agents have been down with me this day, & some of the Men from the several Works with Petitions signed by upwards of 500 of the Workm[e]n;  They requested that their Wages may be raised, & their Subsist[en]ce Money every two Months doubled;  I had a good deal of discourse with them, & they were very sensible that you had done more for the relief of your Workmen than any other Proprietors etc and appeared ashamed of the Conduct of some of the Workmen;  On consulting with the Agents we thought it advisable at this time to increase their subsistance Money one half, to continue the supply of Corn at a reduced price, & as the prices of Gunpowder, & Candles were considerably advanced, the advance on their bargains was left to the consideration of the Agent of the respective Works, or to the whole of them on consultation;  The Miners left me very well satisfied, & if the body of them had not returned to work this Morning?  They promised me that the whole of them would be at Work tomorrow, or next day,  I have a letter from Mrs Beaumont by this days post which I shall answer tomorrow.

                                                                             I am with respect  Dear Sir Yours etc

T Rd Beaumont Esqr                                                                                             J E Blackett