Letter – Lancelot Allgood to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 20 Sep 1802

                        Sandsend September 20th 1802



      In or about the year 1776 - I became concerned for the late Sir Walter Blackett then the owner of the Weardale Lead mines which now belong Colonel Beaumont as second Agent in his Lead mines in Weardale.

      At that time Mr Maughan was the principal agent, after I had been concerned for about five Years Mr Maugham died and Mr Emerson succeeded him in the appointment and continued it until the Year 1801 when Mr Emerson died -- a short time before his death Mr. Beaumont by his application appointed his son to succeed him.

      The Business of the principal Agent is to keep all the Accounts and papers and to receive and pay all the monies and at all times when he thought necessary to inspect the working of the Mines the Business of the second Agent is to view the Mines at particular times to measure of the work, to se that the Lead Ore is properly dressed and to assist in making up the Accounts, and from time to time when in the Discharge of his Duty to take Plans of the working of the Mines the better to direct the workmen - but the Books and Plans were always with the principal Agent, the Plans and Copies being delivered into his Office as soon as they were taken to enable him to judge of the working and to give directions  in the proceedings, the principal Agent had two Clerks to enable him to carry on the Business and to keep the accounts etc.  when I left the employment in Feby. 1802 I gave to Mr. Emerson an Account of the Quantity of Ore then delivered and every paper and thing that belonged  to Colonel Beaumont with which Mr. Emerson seemed perfectly satisfied.  On the death of Mr Emerson I thought having served faithfully for 26 Years that then I ought to have succeeded to the principal Agency, on finding that not to be the Case I was determined at a proper time to quit the employ, and so I told the Col's other Agents  Mr. Bell of Hexham one of the Col's principal Agents at Hexham Mr Dickinson and Mr I Hunter and when I informed some of my Friends that I should  like to undertake an agency and if I could not meet with one I would take a Farm being resolved to quit the Col's service for the reasons before given - One of my Friends whom I had named the matter to having made it known to a Gentleman who wrote Mr. Gregson of Durham that Lord Mulgrave wanted an Agent at his Allum Works  Mr Gregson informed me and with him I applied to Lord Mulgrave stating that I could shortly enter to his Lordships service considering the information before alluded to sufficient, and knowing that the Col had other Agents who were well acquainted with the Conums and who would be moved forward into the one I held which was the Case --   On Lord Mulgrave acceding to my proposal I wrote Mr. Blackett of Newcastle and soon after I waited upon him who was very friendly and seemed very well pleased that I had succeeded to a Situation so that I thought and do think I left the Col's employ in as open and Candid a manner as it was possible to do and as pleasantly with every agent the Colonel had

      Although there is four Months Salary due I recd. all that was then in the course of payment the other I expect to receive about  May 1803 - the usual time for paying the Salarys and Workmen for the preceeding Year. 

      Having delivered up every paper and Account I had to the Satisfaction of Col Beaumont's agent and quitted the Service apparently with pleasure to all concerned I cannot conceive the Col has any Claim upon me as to assisting the Mine Agents to make up their Accounts which is all that can be wanted 

                          (Signed) Lancelot Allgood

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