Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 17 Jan 1804

Document Type: Letter
Date: 17 Jan 1804
Correspondent: John Erasmus Blackett
Recipient: Diana Beaumont
Archive Source: TWA DF HUG 149
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Mrs Beaumont Under cover to				Newcastle 17th Jan[uar]y 1804

      Col Beaumont MP Portman Square London

				

D[ea]r Madam 

      I have the favor of your Letter of the 13th Inst. & observe the Contents.

	I shall (in the Names of Col Beaumont & yourself) make Application to the Committee for the conducting the Affairs of Surtees’ Burdon & Co to know what Sum you may depend on being paid you, on or before the middle of May next; I fear little or none; the first Payments they make I imagine will be the taking up of their Notes which are at 5 per Cent Int[erest] from July last, I shall however represent to them the very great Inconvenience which must naturally attend your Concerns, in case a considerable Payment be not made before your Lead Pay. __ Mr Burdon’s Interest in the Catton Works at Durham lately destroyed by fire, I am told amounted to £14,000 – & £3000 only being insured in the Phoenix Fire Office, so he must be a great Sufferer; he & Mrs Burdon at present reside at the House of Mr W. Surtees in Saville Place, see little or no Company & make no visits. –

	The Lead Houses in London have used every endeavour to reduce the Price of Lead & as they knew that you only had a large Stock, they stood off in Hopes of putting you under a Necessity of selling at a reduced Price; for this Purpose Messrs Walkers & Co made Purchases of a Quantity of Welch Lead at Chester, & have been offering it at 27/- per Cwt about £28-7-6 the Fo{dder], Sheet Lead & Shot in Proportions; they have frequently made me Offers at a much reduced Price & assured me that they could purchase a Quantity at Hull at £28 the Fo[dder]; tho Welch Lead is of very inferior Quality & will not answer for the White Lead Works: on Saturday last Messrs Walkers & Co made an Offer of £30 per Fo[dder] for refined & Common – which I declined accepting of; yesterday I agreed with them for 5000 p[iece]s one half refined, with the usual Quantity of Slag, at £30-10- per Fo[dder] payable in Bills due in six Months, I am inclined to think that they will take 10,000 p[iece]s as they wished to know if I was willing to sell them that Quantity, which as a matter of Favour I consented to do: I have no Doubt that the other London Houses will follow their Example & that in a few Days I may advise you of having sold 15 or 20,000 p[iece]s more on the same terms, which is 10s/-p per Fo[dder] more than the Lead Company sold for, & I shall be happy should it meet with your approbation.—With the very large Stock of Lead that you have at Market, I thought that it was highly advisable to accept of the Offer: Should the French on making any attempt, meet with a Repulse. (which I trust in God they may) we may expect a brisk Demand for Lead in the spring & of course an advanced Price; I shall be a[n]xious to know how far you & Col Beaumont approve of the Sale that I have made etc. 

	I enclose you the state of Coalcleugh Mines, that of Weardale shall be sent you when I get it.			I am etc. J.E.B.      

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The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project aimed to celebrate and discover the heritage of the Dukesfield Arches & lead carriers' routes between Blaydon and the lead mines of Allendale and Weardale. A two year community project, it was led by the Friends of the North Pennines in partnership with Hexhamshire and Slaley Parish Councils and the active support of Allendale Estates. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous support of other sponsors. Friends of the North Pennines: Charity No:1137467