Notes – John Erasmus Blackett – 14 May 1802

[Cover:] Minutes of what passed at a Meeting between Arth. Mowbray & S. Cassells on the part of the Lord Bishop of Durham & of John E. Blackett on the part of Thomas R Beaumont & Diana his Wife on Friday Noon 14 May 1802



On Friday Noon the 14th May 1802, Jno. E. Blackett was called upon at his House in Charlotte Square Newcastle by Mr. Arthur Mowbray of Durham, Agent of the Lord Bishop of Durham, and another Person unknown to J.E. Blackett at that time, who Mr. Mowbray introduced to J.E.B. as Mr. Cassells an Agent of the Bishops. Mr. Mowbray told J.E.Blackett, that he called upon him as Agent of Colonel & Mrs. Beaumont, to demand in behalf of the Bishop, an Account of the Lead Ore raised in the Mines of Weardale, under Lease from the Bishop of Durham to Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont, from the time that the Bishop had been in Possession of the See of Durham; J.E. Blackett asked him for what Purpose he made the Demand: he answered that the Bishop had reason to believe, that the sum which he has received as a Compensation for his one ninth, or Lot Ore, was far from being an Equivalent to the Sum that he was entitled to for his one ninth part of the Ore: on J.E. Blackett telling him, that there was a subsisting Agreement between the Bishop and the late Sir Tho. Blackett for a Sum paid annually in Lieu of his Lot Ore; Mr. Mowbray said, that the Agreement entered into with the late Sir Thos. Blackett, could not be binding on the Bishop; [inserted in another hand: ‘JE Blackett <another opinion>’] that in Case it was no Agreement, it must fall to the Ground; but [struck out: ‘J. E. Blackett answered him’], that Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont looked upon it as a legal Agreement , equally binding on the Bishop, as on themselves, and that in Case of those Mines totally failing, that Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont [word scratched out & replaced with:’ thought’] themselves subject to pay the Bishop the Sum agreed on, during the time that he remained in Possession of the See of Durham; to which Mr. Mowbray gave J.E. Blackett no Answer, but produced a Letter from the Bishop to him, wherein the Bishop expressed himself [inserted in a different hand: ‘in strong terms’] against J.E. Blackett for having deceived him in making the Agreement for his Lot Ore, in being told by J.E. Blackett, that the Sum offered the Bishop (and for which the Agreement was entered into) was a full Compensation for the Value of his Lot Ore, and that J.E. Blackett made this Declaration on his Honour, and in a solemn Manner; and that the said Declaration of J.E. Blackett to the Bishop, induced him to enter into the Agreement with the late Sir Thos. Blackett for his Lot Ore, but that since that time, finding that he had been deceived by J.E. Blackett, that he looked on the Agreement to be void, or Words to that Effect: after J.E. Blackett having read that Letter of the Bishops, he declared to Mr. Mowbray and Mr. Cassells, that he made no such Declaration to the Bishop, as was expressed in his Letter, at the time of making the Agreement and he with some Warmth declared that he was ready to make Oath to that Effect, in any Court in the Kingdom, when called on for the Purpose: J.E. Blackett declined complying with Mr. Mowbray’s Demand of having an Account of the Quantity of Ore raised, as before specified, but said that he would acquaint Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont with the Application made, and would follow their Directions: Mr. Mowbray desired that J.E. Blackett would acquaint Mr. Cassells with the Answer of Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont, which J.E. Blackett said that he would do, but understanding that there had been some Correspondence between them and the Bishop of Durham on the Business, he thought that his writing to Mr. Cassells unnecessary.

	When J.E. Blackett was made acquainted with the Business on which Mr. Mowbray applied to him, not having heard [inserted in another hand: that] the Bishop was so far dissatisfied with the Agreement entered into for his Lot Ore, as to use his Endeavour to set it aside, he was struck with Mr. Mowbray bringing with him Mr. Cassells to a private Interview [inserted in another hand: with JEB] without any previous Information of the Business: J. E. Blackett could not avoid looking on it as a very unhandsome Treatment calculated for the Purpose of taking J.E. Blackett unprepared. – 



[signed] John E. Blackett