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Spennithorn 9th Nov 1797
Dr Sir
I have communicated the contents of your Letter to some of the Proprietors of Lead Mines and Mine Adventurers in this Country & have no doubt they will all be ready to join in any legal Measures necessary to prevent it possible any new Tax from being laid upon Lead ore at the Mines or upon Lead when smelted - To Tax the Ore according to weight before it is smelted would certainly be unequal or improper as some kinds of Ore will produce much more Lead than others - We have been told in this Country a Tax is to be laid upon Copper Tin & Coals as well as Lead but this comes from no authority that can be depended upon - I shd have been very glad to have spent a few Days with you at Harrogate (from which waters I have recd great benefit) but am obliged to set out for London on Saturday next. - I shall most likely see Lord Pomfret and Lord Bolton who are both considerably interested in Lead Mines in this Country and I have no doubt will lend their assistance in preventing any Tax of this sort at least from being imposed on a Partial or in an unreasonable manner - The Scotch Lead by the Treaty of Union is exported Duty Free which gives them a considerable advantage over us - I shall return into the Country in about a fortnights time and shall be ready to join you in any measures that are likely to be beneficial to our Friends concerned in the Lead Trade I am
Dr Sir
Your faithful Hble Serv
Wm. Chaytor
[addressed to:] John E Blackett Esq/ Dragon/ Harrogate/ Wetherby
[annotated in JEB’s hand:] Wm. Chaytor Esq 9r Nov 1797
