Notes – John Erasmus Blackett to R Wilson – 7 Sep 1802

[Cover:] Further Instructions sent R.Wilson Esq – Sept. 7: 1802 – to enable him to prepare an Answer to the Bill filed by Bp. Durham against Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont.



At the time of making the Agreement with the Lord Bishop of Durham for his Lot Ore or 1/9th of the Ore raised in the Weardale Leadmines, he did not require to be informed of the Quantity raised the Year preceeding, nor any Number of Years, on an Average; Had he done so [inserted; ‘?’] It would have been complied with: See a part of J.E. Blackett’s Letter to the Bishop of Durham’s Agent Mr. Rich. Burns dated the 17th June 1791, making an offer of £850 p. Ann. for the Lot Ore, the Sum which the former Bishop received. – 

‘When his Lordship has informed himself fully & taken this Matter into Consideration, you will be pleased to favour me with an Answer.’

From which it appears evident that J.E. Blackett did not endeavour to take any unfair Advantage of the Bishop in the making of the Agreement for his Lot Ore. 

	The Quantity of Ore raised from those Mines, fluctuates from Year to Year. – on an Average of the five Years proceeding the Agreement with the Bishop, the Quantity raised was as near as can be calculated 12,164 ½ Bings; in the Year of the Agreement 1791 there was 

15,5[blank]1 ¾ Bings raised; in the Year 1792 10,090 ¼ Bings. And in the Year 1801 11,395 ¼ Bings. Had the Dues been taken in kind, or the Composition advanced in the Proportion expected by the Bishop, his Lessees Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont  must be considerable Loosers by the working of those Mines, which cannot be done in that full & extensive Manner, that they have been carried on, without evident Loss to the Lessees, without a favourable Agreement for the Lot and Tithe Ore.

	The Value of the Ore and Price of Lead is uncertain & fluctuates almost as much as the Quantity of Ore raised the Average Price of Ore from the Accounts of the Gov. & Lead Company from the Year 1774 to the Year 1801 is £2 – 19 – ,, the Bing: at the Alston Moor Mines it has been sold this present Year from £5 – 15 -,, to £6 - ,, the Bing. – J.E. Blackett has sold Lead at £11 the for. the present Year, he has sold it at £30 the Foddr. this being the Case the present Price of Lead should not be taken into Consideration respecting the Agreement for the Lot Ore, it being a mere Contingency.