Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 18 Mar 1798

Colonel Beaumont                                                             Newcastle    18th March 1798

MP    Portman square     London



Dr Sir	I wrote to you the 2d ins to which I beg leave to refer you.  On Monday last Mr Heron & myself had a meeting with Mr Pearson of Durham & Mr Mowbray the Bishop’s Agent respecting the application that is about to be made to Parliament for a Division of the Commons & Stinted Pastures in Weardale, when after having fully considered that matter it was agreed that care should be taken that the proper Clauses may be in the Bill for the preserving every right & Privilige which the Bishop or his Lessee may have enjoyed; the Lead Stewards are to be down here the 2d April when Mr Emerson & Mr Allgood are to come prepared to give Mr Heron every information, & satisfaction that may be required, after which he is to write to Mr Pearson previous to that Gentn & Mr Mowbray having a Meeting with the Freeholders & the Copyholders;  The Bishop of Durham Covenants in his leases to you, that you shall have the full and ample enjoyment of such Priviliges as are there stated & which the Lessee under the See of Durham have hitherto enjoyed;  Consequently it will be incumbent on the Bishop of Durham to provide against the rights etc of his Lessee being injured.  In a former letter I advised you of the bad prospect for the Lead trade this year & I am sorry to say that it is not likely to improve, some Lead at this place has lately been sold at £14 per For ready money & tho’ the Market is not absolutely to be governed by such small sales on account of the holders being needy, yet as the demand is very trifling, & large stocks will soon be at market, the price must drop, the small quantities that I have sold of late have been at £16 per For but we can not expect that price to be kept up                  I am etc   J.E.B