Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 21 Jan 1787

Sir Thos. Blackett  Bart.                                              Newcastle    Jany.  21st. 1787

Bretton - Yorkshire



Dear Sir       I received both Mr Noble’s letters & shall continue the Pention to the Widow of the late Mr Allgood agreeable to your directions.  The Bishop of Durham is dead & as soon as it is known who is to succeed him I shall immediately make Application to him or his Agent for a Renewal of the Agreement between you & him for the Lot Ore on the same terms as the last.  Should the B[isho]p of Lincoln (who is Rector of Stanhope) be the Person that Rectory will be Vacated, & it will likewise be necessary to apply to the Person who succeeds to it for a renewal of the Agreement for the Tithe Ore wch. I shall do; the Lead Stewards are to be with me tomorrow for Subsistence for the Workmen.  I shall give Mr Emerson directions to separate the Ore from the day of the B[isho]ps death & to keep an account of the same untill Agreements are made with the New Bishop & Rector.  The late B[isho]ps Family have lost between 6 & £700 by the Obstinacy of Mr Dew, Thos. Hepple is now in Lodgings in this Town & much recover’d, he is as well as he has been for many Years, & as he is only about 54 Years of Age it becomes a doubt whether it is advisable to Change his Life, however I certainly would not make the next Bp. the same offer you did the last.

     The Price of Lead I believe will advance, I have sold 310 Casks Litharge at £17.10.. P Ton.                                                                           I am etc    J. E. Blackett