Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 25 Apr 1800

Colonel Beaumont						Newcastle 25th. April 1800

Portman Square London



Dear Sir

      I have been favoured with your Letters of the 11th. & 22d. inst. with the several Parliamentary Proceedings, for which I thank you.

      The Revd. Mr. Wilson has been with me twice lately, & I now find that notwithstanding the Proposals that he said had been made to him for a Lease of Pikestone Leadmine wherein they offered one sixth of the Ore raised for the Dues, clear of all Expences; he now puts in his Claim to his Tithe of 1/10th to be drawn previous to your 1/6 which would reduce your Dues to 1/7 besides the admitting of the Rector’s Right to draw his Tithe of 1/10th  . previous to the Bishops Lot Ore of 1/9th which notwithstanding  Mr. Burton’s Opinion in Favour of the Rector’s Claim, we (having other Opinions) do not admit of; this for the Present puts an end to the Treaty, Another Circumstance (which came to my knowledge this Morning) is a little extraordinary, that at a Time Mr. Wilson is representing the Proposals that have been made to him for such Lease, he has been making Offers to several Mining Companies, particularly the Lead Company whose Agents Letter to him on the Subject I saw this Morning.   Mr. Wilson has likewise made another Request; that Mr. Bell may be sent up to Newhouse to search for some Papers of Consequence respecting Harehope Gill Lead-mine, which he supposes are secreted by the Emersons; now were they capable of such an Act (which I really am far from believing) they certainly would have destroyed Such Papers & in that Belief, they should no longer continue Agents, but in case that you do not give Credit to such charge, the step that Mr. Wilson recommends would be the Means of distroying all Confidence in those Agents, rendering them suspected by the Neighbourhood, & of little use in your Concern.   I am informed that the Widow of T. Pringle  is dead, its thought that her Iniquitous Claim dies with her, & that we shall hear no more of it.   I shall acquaint Messrs. Surtees & Burdon that you expect that they will furnish us with more Gold (than they mentioned) for the Pay.   We have had remarkable fine Weather for this Fortnight past which brought the Spring forward & dried the roads much & I was in hopes of getting the Lead down very fast, but this Day we have abundance of Rain on the Change of the Moon, which I fear may stop us much, we still want near 1000 ps. of ye. Quantity sold.   I hope that I may congratulate Mrs. Beaumont & yourself on the Recovery of your Children from the small Pox.  I am &c. J.E.B.



Since my Answer to Mr. Wilson I received a few Lines from him, a Copy of which I enclose you, but before I can give him an Answer as to the other Mines (except Pikestone) it will be necessary that your Mine Agents should be consulted.





Mr. Wilson’s respectful Compts. to Mr. Blackett & after talking with Mr. Purvis his Attorney, will agree as far as concerns himself that the 5 Mines mentioned situated in the Parish of Wolsingham, should be let at 1/6 of the whole Produce  to Coln. Beaumont, & for the takers to take the Rectors Tythe upon themselves.   As there are now no farther Difficulties in ye. Business Mr. W- desires Mr. Blackett will be so good as to write immediately to Coln. Beaumont to know whether these five Mines in the Parish of Wolsingham Viz Pikestone, - West of Pikestone – Harthope – Southgrain & Fine Burn or Harthope West Burn – can be taken upon Lease on the above Terms & to request Coln. B. will please to return an Answer by return of Post.