Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Diana Beaumont – 3 Jan 1802

Mrs. Beaumont under Cover to			N. Castle 3d. Jan.y 1802

Colonel Beaumont Bretton, Wakefield Yorkshire				



Dear Madam

      I am favoured with your Letter of the 30th. ulto. & observe what you say respecting the renewal of the Lease of Kilhope & Welhope &c. as soon as I receive the necessary Certificate & the Name of the new Life, no time shall be lost in getting that Business concluded, least G: Robson should drop; but in Case his Life could be exchanged at the same time, it would be very well, as it would (at least) save the Expence of Stamps & other Charges amounting to about £15 

      In Case of Mr. Allgoods not complying with the Plan that you laid down respecting the Candles, I shall acquaint him with your Determination.   Mr. Bell called on me yesterday to acquaint me with the Accident which happened to Hexham Mill by the Flood & the Ice, & to consult with me what was advisable to be done on the Occasion, of which he said that he had acquainted you; I understand that the Tenant rents the Mill at £200 p[er] An. from year to year, & that he is not able to bear the Expence of repairing the Damage (the Amount of which cannot at present be ascertained.) but in Case that Colonel Beaumont & you will take it on yourselves, he is willing to pay 5 p[er] Cent on the Amount of the Repairs in Addition to the Rent, wch. is to cease until the Damage be repaired; during wch. time his Profit will cease, & he will be at the Expence of his Servants Wages & Maintenance: the Weather will not at present admit of the Repairs commencing, but it appears absolutely necessary that a Body of Water & Ice (which is collected) should be set off as soon as possible to prevent as much as is practicable further Damage being done; this I took upon me to direct being done without Loss of time; if you do not totally give up your Manor Mill, this Damage should be repaired as soon as the Season will admit of it, & I do not see any other Means of doing it, than in the Manner that I have mentioned, which in Case it should be approved of will make it necessary that the Tenant should enter into a Lease for a Term of Years, subject to the old, as well as to the accrueing Rent. – Your Answer to Mr. Bell will be expected. – The Weather is set in very severe with Frost & Snow.   

      I am &c. – J.E.B.