Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 17 Feb 1799

Colonel Beaumont                                                            Newcastle  17th February  1799

MP   Portman square  London



D[ea]r Sir        I wrote to you the 15th Inst. to which I refer you.  I understand that Mr Fleming has given up all thoughts of the School at Hexham; On his application to the Trustees a Majority of them were in his favour, but meeting with unfriendly Opposition from a quarter where he had not the least reason to expect it, induced him to drop all further thoughts of it; The Town of Hexham has lost the opportunity of having one of the best school Masters in the Kingdom, and a most valuable good Man, the benefit of which to the Place & the Neighbourhood, would have been considerable.  The Ice in the river did not give way ‘till yesterday, the day was mild & we had reason to think that the storm was over, but a heavy snow has fallen the whole of this day, which has the appearance of lasting sometime longer, so that the road will be again shut up.  I am with Compl[limen]ts etc J E B

I should be glad to have the Income Act