Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 10 Jul 1812

      

Mrs Beaumont					N[ew]C[astle] July 10 1812



Madam

I am honored with your l[ett]re of the 6th Inst & in this & another Cover you will receive Cash Acc[ount] & Lead Sales for last Month. I have yet the unpleasant task of stating that the price of Lead is low and the demand dull; but would gladly hope that the relaxation of the Orders in Council regarding America, & the state of the <Bathill> will be productive of an increased Commerce & a consequent enhancement in the price of Lead. – Mess. Thos Lee & Brothers are with other American Merchants, making large consignments of Goods to that Country, of which they have informed me, &  recommending Manufactured Lead, pointed out by Mr R L Lee of New York as suitable to that Markett, to be immediately forwarded  -- possessing no directions from Col Beaumont to send Lead to Mr Lee & unacquainted with your determination on this subject I shall defer taking any steps therein until I am favoured with your commands, addressed to me in London, where I propose going on Sunday by the Mail. – I have been at the Mines, they are generally poor, the Bargains at Allenheads & Coalcleugh are concluded, those in Weardale are now going on and the highest price given for raising Ore this quarter Is 42/- pBing a Sum more than equal to the depressed state of the Lead Markett but which is barely sufficient to support the Workmen, taking into consideration the enormous price of Corn. – a subscription in Weardale & Allendale having commenced to supply Bread Corn at reduced prices to necessitous families, I judged it, after consulting with the Agents, expedient for Col Beaumont to subscribe £50 to each, and in addition to the popularity of the Act, I am persuaded it has been productive of beneficial effects in letting the Bargains. – I shall attend to your directions on the subject of Mr Parson’s letter. – Mr Ferguson of Dalton House near Hexham is a native of Scotland, an Advocate, is recently married & has taken a Lease for six years of his present residence. I rejoice to hear so good an Account of the young Gent[leme]n particularly of Master Richard, whose situation on the Coast of Spain renders him an object of uncommon interest & with my respectful Compl[iments] to Col B[eaumont]

			I am		MM