Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to John Trevelyan – 9 Jan 1780

Sir Jno Trevelyan Barot. at Nettlecomb                                 Newcas 9th Janry 1780

   near Taunton  Somersetshire



Dear Sir     I wrote you the 12th Ult. to which refer you.  Inclosed you have a Copy of Mr. Trevelyans answer to my Letter by which you’ll observe that he does not accept of the Offer you made him of Longwitton Estate for £30000     I am sorry that you Gentlemen are not likely to come to an Agreement for this Estate & the more so as Mr. Trevelyan informs me by Letter Yesterday that he has agreed with Sir Lanc[elo]t Allgood for the Purchase of Cold Park Estate adjoining to Netherwitton for 10000 Guin[ea]s provided that Sir Lanc[elo]t Allgood can make him a Proper Title which I believe there is some doubt about     He gives Notice for the Payment of 10000 Guin[ea]s against the 12 May next.  I am sure I am at a loss to know how that Sum can be raised     Mr Trevelyan says he is promised the refusal of £6000 at 4½ P[er] C[en]t provided it is taken for a Term of Years & the Security approved of  _  he mentions this as he says it may be a Convenience to you but expects you to pay the 10000 Guin[ea]s     As Mr. Trevelyan does not accept the offer you made him & I told him that in Case he made a Purchase elsewhere the Money could not be got at present.  I think he sho[ul]d at least take the £6000.  I have wrote him that I do not see a Possibility of getting the money but imagine you will hear from him on the Subject    You will consider whether you will have Longwitton or Ord Estate advertised again ?  if the former whether in parcels or if you would have Sweethope & Hawick     I have told Mr Turner to be considering & getting Information of the value etc. of those Estates.  I have paid off Mr Watsons Children (being all of Age) £400 & Edward Fenwick £150     I am ready to pay off Mrs Ords £1000 provided they can give such Discharge as Mr. Heron approves of but but there is some Difficulty & I have had a most impertinent Letter from one Selby Ord one of the Parties in that Business     Its probable he may write to you & you will please to refer him to me & Mr Heron.  I have had a very Extraordinary Demand made on you by     Gott near Leeds Father to the Person who built Hexham Bridge jointly with George Brown of Cambo.  The Demand is near £90 for Plans & Attendance; he made the Claim a Year or two before Sir Walter Blacketts Death & Sir Walter was exceedingly provoked at him as Mr. Wooler Mr. Turner & George Brown well remember  _  Sir Walter expected this Man had been the Undertaker with George Brown but by some mistake of the late Mr. Richmond or some Person his Son Will[ia]m Gott gave Security with George Brown     Mr. Heron will send for the Article from Hexham & we shall Consult Mr. Fawcett how far you may be Compellable to pay this Money & if you can come on the Son for half the Penalty of the Bond which is £1500, Sir Walter having paid £3000.  Sir Walter certainly never intended making them pay this Money but he then did not know what a Rascal he had to deal with & if you can come on Mr. Gott I would certainly do it    he has got some Letters of Sir Walters during the Building on which I find he principally founds this Demand    he now threatens a Prosecution.  An Attorney as great a Rascal as himself probably is employed by him     I have engaged to pay Mrs. J Browells Ex[ecut]ors in May next £1500 & I believe Matt Lee will be of Age & will call on me for £200     I have remitted Mr. Wall £200 to make the Quarterly Payments & £500 to pay Sir Edwd. Winningtons half Years Intrest     Mr Turner was with me Yesterday & we had some Discourse about some of your Tenants  when it was necessary to make  Seizures etc which I shall not trouble you with at present.  Mr. Trevelyan write me that Mr. Ra[lph] Carr has given him Notice to pay 5 Cent for the Mortgage he has on Netherwitton which I believe is a large Sum.  I am etc,  J E B.