Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Edward Blackett – 4 Sep 1803

Newbiggin 4th Sepr 1803

Dear Brother

      I am much obliged to you for your kind letter of the 21st ult. & we were happy to hear that Lady Blackett was so much better. As the weather of late has been cooler I hope that she has benifited by going out a little in the Carriage. Brother Harry & I spent a few days at Matfen very agreeably, the weather was very pleasant and the Place & Country about it looked vastly well; We were kindly entertained & the more we are acquainted with our Niece the more she must be <esteemed>, my Daughter Collingwood being advised by Mr Ingham to Sea bathing was obliged to postpone her visit, but about the end of this month she hopes for that Pleasure, & it is probable that my Brother Harry & myself may make them another visit. The death of Lady Fran. Percy has prevented Mr & Mrs Blackett making a Visit at Alnwick Castle at present but they intend it as soon as the Duke & Duchess see Company: the Young Lady death was owing to Water in the head, for which there is no remedy. I had a couple of teeth drawn the other day which had tormented me much & owing to a small artery being opened it bled very much for several hours & occasioned a violent swelled face which with the loss of blood relaxed me a good deal & Ingham recommended the Sea air, on tuesday when the swelling had subsided. I came down to my Daughter at this place who I had the pleasure of finding with her two little Girls going on very well with their bathing. I shall return home on Wednesday; the weather has been very favourable for the Parties at the Sea side, as well as for the Harvest which is in great forwardness in this Country. I was glad to hear from my Daughter Stead the favourable account which Mr Isard gives of Mrs Scott & her family of their health & quiet, but as to the Colonels obtaining to come over on his Parole I fear there is little Prospect of it. I observe that you have had Miss Delhair for a Correspondent lately. I am glad that you did refer her to me, I believe that I offended her & her Father for not taking up their cause against the Beaumonts which I excused myself from doing. Mrs Beaumont & her family are at Worthing in Sussex the Colonel is at present in Yorkshire attending the several Voluntier Hustings & I expect him in Newcastle next week, he very foolishly made an offer to the Duke of York at the beginning of the armiment which no notice has been taken of until the other day when no men can be got; I have not heard the nature of his offer, but I think that the treatment he met with about his late Regiment would have been a sufficient lesson to him, no men can be got in this Country at present for the Army of Reserve under £40 at least, & Mr H Tulip told me this morning that 52 Guins each was given to two men at Hexham last week. The Conduct of Government respecting the Volunteer offers has been very extraordinary, a short time ago they exhorted the Country to Arm, & no sooner had that <......> taken place, than they endeavour to think it as much as possible by refusing the offers made in different parts of the Country & curtailing others, which gives great dissatisfaction; Sir John Swinburn had a number of his tenants & neighbours trained & having taken abundance of pains, his offer has not been accepted of, it has likewise been the case with Mr Brandling at Newcastle & I believe with Lord Strathmore, this has thrown a damp on the Spirits of the People; a Corps of Volunteers at Hexham & other inland Towns have been accepted of, whilst others on the Sea Coast have not: the Force in these parts at present is very small; two Militia Regts & few hundred of the Army of Reserve just raised & three Troops of Dragoons, very few Artillery of any kind. It is thought that the Duke of Northumberd will make some stay in the North in which Case Mr & Mrs Blackett will make their visit at Alnwick Castle; & its probable that I may go with them.

      My daughter Collingwood writes with me in Love & best Wishes to Lady Blackett & yourself & I am Dear Brother Yours Most Affectiony

	John E Blackett



We beg to be kindly remembered to Mrs P Stanley



My Daughter had a letter two days ago from the Admiral dated the 22d ult. when he remained in the same fatiguing & perilous station of the mouth of Brest Harbour, but he was in good health. The Bank of Surtees, Burdon & Co have not yet taken up their Notes nor will they I expect for some time, as to their other concerns, I don't know when they will be settled, Mrs Beaumont is very angry with Mr Burdon & indeed with some reason, he writes to her that he hopes in a short time to give them Securities for the greater part of their debt, it is Money they want to carry forward their Mining concerns &c