Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 24 Sep 1795

Lieut Coll Beaumont M.P. 					 Newcastle  Sep: 24th 1795

               Bretton Wakefield  Yorkshire



Dear Sir	Mr Straker is returned from Allenheads after having with Mr Bell gone thro’ the Mine Accounts of Mr Forster, as well as those of his Rental, but as the Vouchers for which he has not yet produced, tho’ I have frequently required them of him;  he has left the House & Mr Crawhall enters on it immediately;  Inclosed is an Inventory of the Furniture left belonging to Mr Beaumont, which I have compared with that at the time of the death of Sir Walter Blackett, & find it pretty exact; the Bedsteads are very old & mean, only fit for Servants, the rest of the furniture of little value;  as Mrs Beaumont & you may probably go to Allenheads for a couple of Weeks in the Shooting Season, I would recommend that the furnishing the two or three Bedchambers & the Parlour be postponed till the Spring, when beds with washing furniture may be provided & any other Articles;  Mr Crawhall in the mean time will remove his furniture from Coalcleugh, Mr Dickinson will give him his Assistance in looking out for a proper Person as 2d Agent, Mr Crawhall’s Son is a Sober Young Man has worked in the Mines and is qualified to be 3d Agent & I recommend him as such in the Room of Archer who never was fit for the employment in which he was placed by Mr Forster contrary to my Inclinations; there will be no objection to his being employed as Woodsman as he was.  The House formerly occupied (with a small farm) by the 2d Agent Mr Forster after having enlarged it considerably & laid out a great deal of Money on it, placed his brother on it to keep as a public House altho’ the old accustomed public House kept by Nicholson the Engine Man was not 50 Yards from it & on which he would not lay out a shilling tho’ often spoke to about it & it is now in a very decayed state;  It had been a Rule laid down by the late Sir Walter Blackett & which Sir Thos Blackett approved of, Not to allow of more than one Public House at Allenheads for reasons too obvious to mention _ The breaking thro’ this has been attended with very bad Consequences not only to the Concern but to the Health & Morals of the Workmen, it has likewise been a House of Accomodation to the Sportsmen who came to those Moors in the Shooting Season without any leave; the House is now kept by the Widow of Thos Forster & as she has got a Licence in Augt last we cannot with propriety remove her till Augt next against which time she shall have regular Notice to quit the House & Farm;  I would recommend that from that time they may be occupied by the 2d Agent;  the House will admit of a small part being taken off for the present Engine Man whose residence on the spot is necessary.  The old Public House will have some little repairs in the Spring & the present occupier who is a person of very good Character & not employed at the Mines etc will Hold the House during your Pleasure.  Mr Forster’s Son will have the offer of the 2d Agents place at Coalcleugh under Mr Dickinson.  I have been more particular as to this Matter, as you may probably have applications from Forster in favour of his Brother’s Widow.

	Should you & Mrs Beaumont approve of these Arrangements?  you will please to acquaint me

      I remain with respect  Dear Sir  Your Most Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t     John E Blackett