Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 29 Oct 1797

Thomas Richd Beaumont Esqr                                                          Newcastle    29th Octr 1797

M.P.        Portman square London



Dr Sir	I waited for a letter from Mr Bell before I wrote to you that I might have it in my power to give you some account to give you some account of what is doing at the Abbey;  All he says is, that the Slaters are getting forward, & that they will get the South side of the square covered in before Martinmass, in case the Weather permits.  Miss Newton informs me that her Father has not yet given a Power of Attorney to her & another person to act for him, it has been mentioned to him, & he has no objection, the Deed is preparing, & when executed, Mr Ebdon will be desired to meet Mr Stephenson (who acts for the Newtons) at the Abbey to set a value on the work etc  As I propose going in a few days to Harrogate for a fortnight any letter that you may write on this business, you will please to address to Mr Straker or Mr Bell.  I wish that you would endeavour to find out from Mr Pitt or Mr Rose whether there is any serious intention of bringing forward in the House a Tax on Lead;  Whether it is proposed to lay it on the Ore at the Mine, or Mill, before the Smelting, or on the Lead when smelted, and if it be the intention of the Minister to subject it to the Excise laws,  It is highly necessary that we should be informed of these particulars as soon as possible, that the Lead Proprietors may be enabled to offer such Arguments to the Minister against the Tax, (or the Mode of it,) as may be adviseable and which if attended to may be the means of preventing the Mining Concerns being materially injured, and a number of Mines in this Kingdom must unavoidably be laid in, & the Workmen & their families rendered destitute of bread; I have wrote to Derbyshire & Scotland on the subject & shall write to Mr Chayter a principal Proprietor in Yorkshire, they are all of the same opinion with me on this matter; I shall be glad to hear from you on this business, directed to the Dragon Harrogate.  I hope that you left Mrs Beaumont & young folks in good health.            I am etc   J.E.B