Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 8 Jul 1803

Colonel Beaumont					Newcastle 8th. July 1803

Cheltenham Gloucestershire.	[In margin: copy sent to Mr. Bowns]



Dear Sir

      I wrote to Mrs. Beaumont the 6th. inst. I yesterday wrote a Card to Messrs Surtees’s requesting to have a Conference with them: Mr. <F.> S. was engaged, I saw Mr. A. Surtees, he told me that they has been under a Necessity of stopping Payment by a Number of unfortunate Circumstances, that they could not at present come forward with any Proposition, but that they waited for the Answer that may be given by Govermt. to the Application made to them by the Gentlemen that went up for the Purpose; at the same Time he gave me the strongest Assurance of their Bank being perfectly solvent.

      I am this Day favoured with your Letter of the 5th. Inst. enclosing a Copy of Mr. Burdon’s Letter to you; I do not approve of it, for he speaks too lightly of the Business; for altho’ he strongly represents the ultimate Stability of the Bank, he lays no Stress on the present Inconvenience which your Concerns must be subject to, not only from their Bank, but from their Connections in Trade. – I have this day had a Letter from Mr. Bowns a Copy of which I enclose you. –

      You will observe by the Advertisement in the Newcastle Paper, that Messrs. Surtees’ Burdon & Brandling decline any further carrying on the Bank &c.

      I understand that the Gentlemen who went up have had a Conference with Mr. Addington on the Business; that he appeared to be well inclined to give the Assistance of Government at this Time, but would take it into further Consideration, the result of which we shall be informed of by Tomorrow’s Post; this unpleasant Business and some Expectations of seeing you or Mr. Bowns, or possibly both, keeps me at home when my Mind at present requires a little Ease & Relaxation.

      I am &c.J.E.B.



I am happy to find by Mr. Bowns’s Letter, that a Sum of £17,800 was drawn out of the Bank & which I was not informed of; I wish that you & Mrs. Beaumont had followed my Advice with Respect to the £55,000 to purchase into the Funds. <cr>