Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Isaac Hunter – 10 Mar 1796

Mr Isaac Hunter                                                                      Newcastle    10th  Mar 1796

             Dukesfield



Dear Sir	I received yours with the Plans of the Estate & Allen Mill agreed for & I much approve of your loosing no time in the providing materials for the necessary repairs & alterations at the Lead Mill, which should be set about as soon as the season will admit of it.  I think you judge right in sending part of the Lead by Hexham as it may be a means of bringing the East hand Carriage Men to better terms, but I fear that those of Hexham etc are about an advance; however the Lead must be got down if possible tho’ we may be obliged to pay some advance, there is at present upwards of 15,000 p[iece]s of Lead on the Road from the Mills, the Interest of the Amount for 6 Months is considerable; which induced me to give the East hand Carriage the encouragement of paying the Toll & I likewise approve of your promising the last Years Carriage Men 6d per Fodd[er] from the Bankfoot to Blaydon for what they carry before old Lady-day provided they set about it in earnest.  Mr Westgarth’s Galloway I fear will not answer for me, but you shall hear further from me.

                                                                                                     I am etc   J.E.B