Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 8 Apr 1799

Colonel Beaumont                                                 Boldon   8th April  1799

Portman Square   London



D[ea]r Sir        

      I wrote to you on the 1st & 4th Inst, to which I refer you.  On the 5th  I sent you by Mr Clayton the Town Clerk of NCastle the Certificate of the Commissioners (for the Sale of the Land Tax) of the amount of your Land Tax in the County of Northd. the Certificate of that in the County of Durham will be sent you as soon as I can obtain it from the Commiss[ione]rs. these will enable you to purchase your Land Tax in the North.  As soon as I can get the Schedule of your Property compleated, it shall be sent you.   Since the above I have by this days Post received your letter of the 6th Inst. a letter from Mr Tweedale of the 7th last & one from Mr. C. Bowns of Bank Top of the 6th the latter enclosing an Estimate of your Income in Yorkshire stated by him, on the information of Mr. Tweedale; Agents Salary & some other Articles in the Deductions,  Mr Heron informs me will not be allowed; Mr. Tweedale informs me that the £144 Rent of a Farm (which you thought had been omitted in the Account he sent) is included in Dorton Rents as being Collected there with the other Rents.  Not having heard any thing either from Mr Heron or Mr Williamson respecting the Suit about Harehope Gill Mine, I apprehend that matter has not come on to trial at the last York Assizes.

      The Weather has been very severe for some days past, the very violent Storm on thursday night & friday last has been fatal to the Shipping on this Coast, there is already an Account of a dozen loaden Colliers being Wreck’d, five of which all the Men perished & we have fears for many more to the Northward, if you have not a good stock of Coals you must pay a very high price for them.  NCastle 9th April.  The Accounts of the Shipping that have suffered in the late storm, become dayly more Melancholy.

      Mr Bowns takes notice that nothing is stated for your House in Town either as to rate or deductions, he probably is not acquainted that is rented; he likewise writes me “The Income Commissrs. have appointed to meet on the 17th Inst, in order to receive returns from the Assessors, so that if you could furnish Mr Tweedale with a Duplicate of that which the Colonel is to make previous to that time I trust he will not be considered a Defaulter,”  Now we do not apprehend that there will be a necessity for that being done against that time as the State of your Income will be given in to the Commissrs. for Northd. at Hexham, but should the Yorkshire Commissrs. require it, the Statement shall be sent to Mr Tweedale, should you recollect any omission etc on acquainting me early it shall be rectify’d;  The Money that you have in the Stocks for the Purpose of Purchasing your Land Tax, & the Money in your Bankers hands to make the several Lead Pays next month should not (I think) be noticed in the Statement.  

                            I am etc J E B