Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 22 Mar 1811

      Newcastle 22nd March 1811

Mrs Beaumont

address to Cl Beaumont Portman Square



      I am honored with your Letter of the 19th inst and previous to the great Lead Pay I applied to Mr Pearson for payment of the Loan to Mr Baker and since my return from the Mines have again urged him that I may be enabled to make the Ore Carriage Pay at Blanchland on the 6th of next month amounting upwards of 10,000£ to avoid the necessity of drawing upon Messrs Glyn & Co for the amount. – Mr Pearson expects to have the money on the 20th April, but will not give any positive assurance that I can have it to apply to the above purpose. – The great Pays and monthly Subsistence amounted to the enormous sum of £71,886–9–7 ½ arising independent of the increased quantity and enhanced price of materials, from the large proportion of Ore raised at the high price p[er] Bing, and expensive Trials particularly at Middlehope Shield & Sedlin, which Mines are now producing a great increase of very fine Ore. –

      The Ore resting at the Mills last Christmas will give them employment for nearly a Year, the quantity exceeding 19,000 Bings and which will receive an augmentation by the approaching Carriage of 25,000 Bings. – The quantity of Lead to be produced to 31 Decem[be]r next cannot be estimated  at less than 100,000 pieces and I am at this moment enabled to dispose of, (exclusive of 10,000 p[iece]s sent to the London works) 25,000 pieces, provided an adequate price could be obtained, which my utmost exertions are applied to accomplish. –

      Had the situation of the Country been encouraging of its  Commerce a considerable surplus in Bills might have been in your Bankers hands by the Sales of last year; but you are aware Madam of the difficultys that have been encountered, and indeed the good fortune in point of price, of effecting the Sales that were made. – It has long been a source of great anxiety to me and to which I have often had the honor of calling your attention, the great and increasing expence of working the Mines, at a time particularly ill calculated to bear any excess, when the Commerce of the Country has become from bad to worse and is at this moment almost reduced to the extremity of distress I have given directions to Mr Dickinson to reduce as much as is practicable and proper, the Expences of his Department and 

      am etc 	MM