Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 25 Mar 1804

Mrs Beaumont under Cover to 					Newcastle March 25th 1804

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London

					

Dear Madam

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 21st Inst. I went with Mr Bowns on Friday noon to meet the Committee of Surtees Burdon & Co. Mr Bowns inspected the fresh Statement of their Affairs & had a good deal of Conversation with Mr Burdon & the Committee respecting Col Beaumont being a withholding Creditor, for the Particulars of which I refer you to Mr Bowns. We had afterwards some conversation with the Bank of Loraine & Co who satisfied Mr Bowns that they had declined doing the Business for the great Lead Pay on the Terms proposed to them by Messrs Davidson& Co, on which account it will be necessary that you should have some conversation with Mr Davidson on this Business, as it will require some Time to provide Notes of Cash. The Pays I expect will amount to about £44,000-,,-,, it would be well if the Pays were made the 15th, 16th, & 17th of May, before Stagshawbank Fair, but as your Affairs are circumstanced, I fear we shall be under the necessity of postponing them till the 27th, 28th, & 29th of that Month: you will observe by the enclosed Account the several Sums we expect to receive for the Pays: When a further Sale of Lead is made I will endeavour to procure Bills immediately tho’ they may be at a long Date.

	The Lead Buyers knowing that the only large Quantity of Lead is in your Hands, withhold purchasing of you in Hopes of inducing you to reduce the Price for the Purpose of making the Lead Pay. Mr Bowns purposes being here to meet the Committee of messrs Surtees Burdon & Co about the 20th of April. You were misinformed as to the Surtees’s they have laid down their Carriages & discharged several Servants; they as well as Mr Burdon are living in a very economical Manner. When I was at Hexham I called to see Medlam’s wife, who appeared to be in a dying State and wished to see her Husband; Mr Wood has been wrote to, to send him over, & a proper Person should be provided to take Care of the House.

	The Leadmines were much in the same State; Allenheads rather improving.

	I am this day favoured with you letter of 23rd Inst. enclosing Mr Hammersley’s Letter to Col Beaumont; the Transactions appear to me to be between his House & Surtees & Burdon; I shall enquire into the Matter & give you every Information I can procure. I am etc. J.E.B.

	The Account which you so kindly give me of your young Family is very pleasing. I shall be very happy in taking a Dinner with them at the Abbey in Summer.