Letter – William Blackett to John Erasmus Blackett – 7 Jan 1807

My Dear Sir

      Many happy returns of this season to yourself Lady Collingwood & Family which has been the mildest I ever remember till within these few days we have had roses showing in the open ground. We have only just covered the Myrtles which were full of buds & would have <flown> if the frost had not come on which has been rather sharp for these three days – little Patience is out every day in the Garden & grows very much; Edward is so great a favourite at <Westoe> with his uncles & aunts that they cannot part with him yet. It is to long since I have heard from Mr Bates & I have written him several letters that I fear he is unwell: I sent a Lease down a little time ago by the Coach; which you will have the goodness to give to any of the farmers who may come to Market and they will forward it to him. I hope you have got quit of your Rhumatism, Exercise & warm clothing is I believe the best remedy. I heard of the Steads the other day from our Neighbours the <Izards>they say <Crowfield> is so <wet> in winter & the roads so very bad that they cannot go much out, & <... tis> a very gay neighbourhood, whoever takes a place in the Country should look at it in the midst of winter, <even> this which is so dry a Country, has been very wet this winter. I hope the report of the recapture of Buenos Ayres is not true, but the reinforcement were so long detained after they had embarked that many people are apprehensive of it & the present ministry seem to be very slow in their operations very undecided, Ld Collingwood is right in <detaining> Sir J Duckworth at the Spaniards may probably make an effort to come out. I fear you have not been able to persuade my uncle Harry to come over often to Newcastle, I wish we had him here with us.  Mr <Hughton> & Mr Grant is very pleasant this house full of young people who are very musical. Mr Bates has found out an assistant whom he wishes to take, he is Son to Ridley one of our Tenants in the west, I had rather he had come from the North parts of the County, & I fear he will be too young & the labourers at Matfen will <not> think him, I am to give him forty pounds a year & a house, an older person who has had more experience & from a distance I should have liked much better, but Mr Bates seems to have a partiality for this Ridley. I hear Mrs Beaumont says no one can live like a Gentleman under six & thirty thousand a year, she told Ld Tankerville Son in conversation a little time ago; this young one which is coming is probably a mixed Breed perhaps a cross with <M.P. Andrews.>

      Mary Anne joins with me in kind love to yourself & Lady Collingwood & young people wishing you all many happy New Years believe me Dear Sir very affectionately yours

      Wm Blackett



Thorpe Lee Jany 7th 1807



John Eras. Blackett Esq. Newcastle on Tyne