Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 27 Apr 1799

Colonel Beaumont                                                 Newcastle   27 April  1799

Portman square  London



D[ea]r Sir        I am favoured with your Letter of the 25th Inst. I have made further enquiry respecting a Gate being placed on the South Turnpike Road to Hexham at High Team, how far it may affect your Concerns, & I do not find that it can in any Material Degree;  Your Lead from Weardale comes down to Blaydon some Distance above that Gate, & all the heavy Materials for those Mines are sent up the River to Blaydon, & go up from thence by the back Carriage.  I observe what you say respecting the House of which you have an Offer; it appears to be an eligible Purchase provided you have a long term in the Lease, for I imagine that it is not Freehold but I am informed there are a Number of large Houses on Sale at this Time which may be an Inducement to the present Owner to lower the Price; should the Circumstances turn out as has been represented, the Title approved of by the Person of the Law that you imploy, & the Terms agreeable, I would recommend that in Case no part of the Purchase Money remains for a Time on Interest, that the Payment may be made by Instalments. I have not got the Bill for the Division of the stinted moors & Pastures in Weardale, but Mr Williamson has shewn me it.  By which I observe that your Right of working the Mines in as full & ample a Manner as they have been heretofore, without paying any Damage whatever, is sufficiently guarded by which Means you are in a better Situation than before, for although no Damage has been paid, it was always a Subject of Contention which this Act puts an End to.  Your Lead Stewards are with me at present, they receive the Notes & Cash tomorrow, I shall go up with them to Dukesfield on Tuesday Morning, though I am very unfit for such a Journey in so very cold Weather having the Rheumatism in my Head & Teeth very much.  The Stewards inform me that there is little or no Alteration in the State of the Mines since I saw them last.        I am etc   J. E. B.