Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 28 Jan 1795

Coll Beaumont                                                                                Newcastle   28th Jany 1795

No 4 Portman Square London



Dr Sir	I am favoured with your letter of the 22d inst & observe that you are desirous of Relieving the Miners of Allenheads & Coalcleugh of the 5o/o Allowed Annually by each Man to the Clergyman Mr C wch on an Average for the last 7 Years Amo[un]ts to £92-11-6 3/4   it is to be taken off their wages at the Pays, but I don’t understand that the 5o/o is allowed them again & I never heard the Men make the least complaint untill Mr Forster put it into their heads were the Workmen to be intirely Relieved from the Payment you w[oul]d think it Reasonable to allow the present Mr Carr a certain Sum in lieu of it which should not in my Opinion be less than £50 or £60 per Annu[]m for after paying his Curate at Allendale I don’t believe that he has above £40 per Ann[um]; out of which he is under the necessity of Keeping a Horse as he does Duty at a distant Chapel, I believe that the Wages of the Miners have for some Years Past, been Advanced on a greater proportion than provisions have advanced in price & it has been found by experience that the more concession is made to them the more unreasonable they are _ When I can form any judgement of the Amount of the next Pay you shall be Advised of the same as well as the Resources we may expect at present we have not any demand for Lead nor can we expect it at this Season, there is no Lead at Blaydon undisposed of except the Refinable, the Season as well as the Road will not at present Admit any being brought down the Price continues at £14-10- & £14-15 _ early next Month the East Carriage will be paid Amount[in]g to upwards of £1100.  On Monday last a Collection was made for the Poor of this Place when I took the liberty of Subscribing £5 for you as it had been done for the late Sir T Blackett on former Occasions of the kind.  I am etc  J E B