Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to William Chapman – 16 Mar 1790

Mr William Chapman  Engineer                                                    Newcastle  March 16th 1790

   Naas  Ireland



Sir	I yesterday received your letter of the 9th ins[tan]t the Contents of which surprises me not a little _ I believe that I may have rece[ive]d a letter from you the beginning of Feby when I was in Yorkshire w[hi]ch I did not think necessary to answer at that time not having the most distant Idea of ever being concerned in Lead or copper Mines, even in this Country where I might have the Advantage of the advice & assistance of the most skilful persons of Character _ I should have much less inducement to enter into engagements of the kind at a distance & w[i]th Persons that I am totally unconnected with etc etc neither have I ever given the least encouragement to the person that you mention

	As to John Lawson he is a stranger to me but I am informed that he worked in Sir Thos Blacketts Lead Mines some years since, from his letter to me I judged him to be not perfectly sane & I am satisfied that I should have been thought so had I been concerned with him in the Undertaking that he proposed.

	I must again repeat to you that John Lawson is a perfect Stranger to me & that his saying that he was employed by a Company in which I was Partner is a very great Fals[e]hood                                                                        I am etc     J.E.B