Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 22 Mar 1796

Thomas Rd Beaumont Esqr                                                         Newcastle 22nd Mar 1796

M.P.   Portman square  London



Dear Sir	

      I was favoured with your Letter of the 17th inst & observe that you have made further application to Mr Pitt respect[in]g the early Importation of Rye from the Emperors Ports, in which I hope that you may succeed; I have communicated that part of your Letter to the trade _ Wheat was on Saturday from 12s to 13s 6d  Oats 3s to 3s 6d per W<..> Bush: & as high as 4s 3d for Seed, tho Marketts were very thin owing to their being very busy in Sowing, which is likewise the cause of preventing the Lead being brought down to Markett, but I expect that the Lead Carriage will lead briskly in ten days, that we may be enabled to supply the demand for the Eastern Marketts.  The Miners are at present perfectly quiet & Contented; I was almost run out of Rye & a few days since I purchased 7 1/2 Lasts of Rye at £30 per Last & 5 Lasts of Barley at £18 per Do which will supply the Workmen till about the end of May next.  Two of your Farms in Winlaton Lordship the Content & Parkhead were lett by the late Sir Walter Blackett to the late Mr Simpson on a Lease of 21 Years which expires the 1st May 1797; Mr Simpson sublet these Farms obliging the Tenants to lead Coals from his Collieries; It is probable that application will be made to you by Mr J. Ord or by Mr Simpson’s Agent for a renewal of the Lease; but I recommend it to you; on no account to do it, for the reasons that I shall give you; The Farmers who are by their Lease obliged to lead Coals the whole Year, commonly neglect their farms, or do not pay that attention to them that a Landlord has a right to expect, & they are in general bad Husbandmen; but the Principal objection is the want of Carriage for your Lead, which puts us to great inconvenience, as well as expence; The new Tenants of these Farms will have no objection to the leading of Lead, neither will it be of that prejudice to the Farms as being compelled to lead Coals,  As it cannot be expected that your Agents in the North are sufficiently skill’d in the Valuation & letting of Farms etc I engaged J Armstrong (the late Sir Thos Claverings Steward, who his Nephew has very imprudently discharged) to View these Farms, & to make his report of the state they are in, a Copy of which, as well as the Agreements with the late Mr Simpson, I enclose you;  I would recommend that the two Farms be Advertised in May next, & let to good tenants subject to such Conditions as Mr Armstrong may advise, particularly that of not leading Coals for any person, & being obliged to lead Lead;  Your rent will be advanced, the Farms in much better condition, & this increase in Carriage will be a great Acquisition to the Concern.  Armstrong is continued Steward for the Estates of Lord Cooper & Charles Clavering, & I do not know a more able, active, honest Man in his line;  I have since employed him in Viewing some other Farms of yours in the same Lordship, let from Year to Year;  I hope that what I have done, may meet with your approbation.

	When you come into the North, something given to the prisoners in the several Goals, will be very proper, I think that it will be better let alone at present.  Mr Davison an acquaintance of mine who has considerable Contacts under Governments, & who lately purchased Mr Grieve’s Estate near Alnwick, at present; at present resides in Harpur Street, if you have not call’d upon him you should.

	After some very mild fine Weather, we have had three bitter cold days, which has confined me to the House with a severe cold & Rheumatism.  The Bill that you sent me down for the Division & Inclosure of Waste Lands was two leaf’s deficient fols 33 to 36 _ The Proprietors of Lands will I think have too much power in some cases, to the Prejudice of the Lord of the Manor. but it will require great amendment, & I think that the Chancellor as well as the Officers of the two Houses will not be friendly to it, as it must curtail their fee’s

      I am etc   J.E.B

Mr Emerson Jn has just now called on me, his Father (who is about 74) is dangerously ill of the Gravel, & he is come for Doctr Clarks advice, I hope that he may do well, for he would be a great loss to your Concern.