Letter – Edward Blackett to Jacob Peart – 23 Mar 1711

Honest Jacob

      I rec[eive]d yours of the 19th & do let Mr Loraine his bargaine he is a very honest poor man & I think his proposalls are not unreasonable but if you think any of them be you may Alter it as you think fit but I would by all means have that poor man Employd & be sure you <tell> him <use> that he make no Idle days when water & weather serves I would have you to go to Newburn when the first of my Lead goes down & shew them where to Lay it & order them not to Lay the undertakers lead where mine lies I think it is but very reasonable that my Lead should go in first being I made the bargaine at first with the Carriers

      I p[er]ceive by yours the No. of peices I have at the Mill but you made a Mistake in the Undertakers lead for you say they have lieing at the Mill 435 p[iece]s & that my 5th p[ar]t is 85 but if you divide it rightly by 5 youl find it comes to 87

      I know Mr Featherstone or Mr Mowberry will willingly Lend you a Coyle of Rope so give the man notice assoon as possibly you canto come to Fallowfeild I draw up the Ginn & do you Dispose of the Ginn & the Chaine at as good a price as you can I leave that & all other my Concerns to your prudent Manedgm[en]t

      It is now the time that there will be demand for Lead so the sooner both mine & the Undertakers are at Newcastle the better you may hire so many more draughts for a week or ten days in case there be occasions for the speedy Carriage of it down for you must tell the Carriers it is upon a <force put> & if they will not hire them you must so I hope They will not in the least Scruple the hireing of them when they know the reall Occasion I am

      Your assured freind



be sure you fail not to write me a line