Letters – John Erasmus Blackett to John Bell – 19 Dec 1799

Mr John Bell                                                                   Newcastle    19 Decr 1799

            Hexham Abbey



D Sir	I received your letter of the 18th Inst & observe the Contents.  The Rye that I have purchased for Mr Beaumonts Workmen would not be sufficient for them & the Poor of Hexham etc for six weeks, & Mr Clarke being of opinion that the price will be lower, & the report that prevails of a Combination amongst the Corn Merchants which is certainly unfounded induces me to decline having any concern with the supply of Rye for the Poor of Hexham, which I can on no Account undertake; on which account if you can not have confidence in any of the Corn Merchants of this Place for the Weekly supply of your Poor at a fair reasonable Price, to be sent up by such conveyance as you, or the Committee may direct, Some proper Person should be appointed to transact that business _ As to Col Beaumont’s Subscription; You who are acquainted with the proceedings, on a former occasion, & what is necessary to be done on the present, must be a much better judge than I can possibly be.  The Weather at present is very severe                 I am D Sir etc   J.E.B