Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 4 Feb 1820

Mrs Beaumont					Newcastle Feby 4th/1820



Madam

      I duly rec[eiv]ed your letter of the 1st Inst & in this & another Cover, have the Honor to transmit the Quarterly Reports for Allenheads & Coalcleugh Lead Mines. – Mr Beaumont will have informed you of the occurrences which have arisen in consequence of the late Kings demise. – A Contest for the County is in the general opinion, inevitable; and the hand Bill which I sent yesterday to Mr Beaumont is ascertained to have come from Alnwick Castle. Conjecture is at work respecting the new Candidate & Mr Brandling & Mr Ord of Nunnykirk have been mentioned; the latter I cannot think the Duke would give his Interest to; but do not entertain the same opinion with respect to Mr Brandling were to be disposed to come forward. – I have not heard of Mr Liddells name being once mentioned, but a short time will develope the views of all Partys & it is to be hoped Sir Chas Monck may retire & leave the Election undisturbed to Mr Beaumont. – All the Coals consumed at Limehouse & Blaydon are furnished by Mr Blackett & the amount applied to the Reduction of his

Debt & Int[eres]t; nor can more Coals for any useful purpose be taken from him: the House he once occupied in Westgate Street he sold to Mr Isaac Cookson. - the Premises belonging to him in Morley Street are let to several Tenants & were He to dispose of them, would be demanding a Sum beyond what is necessary for you to give for an Office, which however I shall endeavour to ascertain.  

      It will afford me great pleasure to arrange the Bank Acc[oun]t for the disbursements of your Mines in the way most satisfactory to yourself & Mr Beaumont – the Acc[oun]t is kept at present precisely in the manner as I found it; & as it was directed to be kept when I entered your service & which I am told originated in consequence of the failure of Messrs Surtees B B by whom you lost upwards of £40,000 I cannot entertain any desire respecting this Account but what is consonant to your satisfaction & security. -

      I rejoice in the prospect you entertain of an end being put to the dispute with Mr Swallow - the Lease you are inclined to grant him, will no doubt be so secured by the responsibility of the parties to be concerned in the Undertaking & other precautions as to render unnecessary any further interposition of the Law. – The Box containing Spar from Weardale is put on board the Rockcliffe Taylor for Hull, & directed to be forwarded to Bretton. Inclosed are the Ages of the partys In the Lease for Lives of the Weardale Leadmines. The Lease of Killhope & Wellhope is in the possession of Mr Thomas & I shall mention to him your desire to have the names. 

I am etc	MM



Saturday Morning 5th Feby  - Mr Brandling has declared himself a Candidate for the Representation of the County; & inclosed, in the other Cover, is his address. – An Express was sent by Mr Pearson to Sir Charles Monck last night, announcing this occurrence