Letter – Diana Beaumont to John Erasmus Blackett – 27 Dec 1800

John E. Blackett Esq. Charlotte Square, Newcastle upon Tyne	27th De[em]b[e]r



Dear Sir

      I am favor’d with your Letter of the 24th - & as it would occasion some delay my writing to Col. Beaumont, & waiting his answer from Limerick, I must beg you will immediately accept the offer made by Mr C. Blackett for Messrs Pigon & Andrews supplying our Mines with Gunpowder on the same terms which are offer’d to us by Mr Wakefield, & to give the whole of the Contract as I mention’d at Newcastle to Mr C Blackett, it was with very great reluctance that we thought of altering the mode of supplying our Mines with Gunpowder, but the offer was too advantageous to our Workmen to be refused by <us>, & must also make a considerable difference to us, I shall be happy to hear from you after you have met with the Lead Stewards, as I am anxious to know that all goes on well at the Mines, & promising, & if the different regulations are carried into effect, will this Russia Business affect the Sale of Lead, I believe they have Mines in Russia but which they have never worked, I hope they will not now be induced to open them, is Lead likely to continue its present price? pray have the Halls been able to complete their Sale?

      Col. Beaumont desires that I will transact all his Business for him in his absence as it might occasion great inconvenience waiting his answers from Ireland, he arrived at Dublin on the 20th Lord Cornwallis received him in his private Apartment was extremely civil, & said he should ask a Party to meet him at Dinner the next Day, he has given Col. Beaumont the Command at Limerick where he will have about 3000 Men under his Command, & the whole of his Regt Will be there, this attention of the Lord Lieutenant appears to give great satisfaction to my Colonel, but it does not give me the same pleasure for it [missing – possibly ‘is no’] compensation to me for his absence from his Family, & I fear this will be a bar to his returning so soon as he proposed, which distresses me extremely – Mr T. Crawhall Made the Frank too heavy, they wrote on it at the Post Office 1 oz above Privilege, & charged Accordingly, if it is a Grain above one Ounce they charge the Frank. Mr & Mrs Lee are at present with me & beg to unite with me in best Comp[limen]ts to yourself Mrs Collingwood & Mrs Stead – I am Dear Sir

      Yr. sincere Hble Servt

      D. Beaumont



Wentworth arrived safe on the 21st & is in high Health & Spirits