Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 6 Mar 1803

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to				N.Castle 6th. March 1803.-

Colonel Beaumont Portman Square, London 		  



Dr. Madam

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 28th. Ulto. & observe what you say respecting the Remonstrance of Mr. Burdon against your drawing out of their Bank £10,000 – to invest in the Funds; it is certainly very unhandsome in them, & I think very ill judged and I much approve of your Resolution of carrying that Purchase into Execution; enclosed I send you a Sketch of an Account of the Payments to be made ‘till August next, with the several Sums that we may expect to receive till that time, from which (with the Balance in your Favour in Account with your Bankers on the 1st. Feb.y) you may judge how very unreasonable it is in them to have made the least Objection, and to expect that you should keep so very large a Sum of Money shut up in their Hands, and by that Means to enable them to speculate so very largely in different Concerns.-

      The Lead Houses are run out of Lead, & obliged to come to Market, I yesterday sold to Walker’s, Parker & Co. 1,000 ps. Refd. Lead at £34 – and 1,000 ps. Com[mo]n. at £33 p[er] Fo[dde]r. & 120 Casks of Litharge at £34 p[er] Ton; I likwise sold to Easterby & Co. 100 Casks of Litharge at £34 p[er] Ton; these Quantities with the former Sales I expect to compleat by the middle of April.-

      Mr. Grainger, the Person recommended to you by Mr. Burdon, as a Land Steward, I am informed was a Partner in the Stokesly Bank which stopt Payment, and that Matter is yet unsettled.-

      The Country is at present covered with Snow & a severe Frost, which prevents Mr. W. Bates making a Valuation of Mr. Hunter’s Estate &c. –

      I shall go to Hexham on Monday to meet the Lead Agents & with Subsistence for the Workmen; it becomes highly necessary that the Mine Agents & the Mill Agents should have particular Directions given them as to the mixing of the Ore, & to have certain Remarks on that kind of Lead which is fit for Litharge, that we may reserve it for the Purpose, and not dispose of it to those Works, which are endeavouring to get a part of that Trade from us; it will likewise be necessary to use every Means for getting down the Ore to the several Lead Mills; Dukesfield and Rookhope Mills having smelted all their Stocks, and are I believe, at present laid off work on that Account.-

      I observe that London is very sickly; I am glad to hear that your Family escape this Influenza, it has been general at this Place, but not to that Degree as in the South; I have had my Share of it.  I am &c.-----J.E.B.



Would you have Mr. Ingham’s Bill for Medicine & Attendance on Hannah Ashton, sent to you or must I pay it?