Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Blackett – 4 Apr 1786

Sir Thos Blackett  Bart.                                              Newcastle    April   4th . 1786

Bretton - Yorkshire



Dear Sir       Inclosed you will receive a Bill drawn by Bell Carr & Co. of this date at a Month for £1000 the receipt of which you will please top acknowledge, or desire Mr Noble to do it.  There are little alterations in the Mines since I wrote to you,  the Stewards are to be here the 24th inst. & I shall go up with them on the 25th to make the Pays for the several Mines & Lead Mills which will amount to about £41,000.     Poor Mr Salkeld has had a stroke of the Palsy & is quite incapable of doing business, his department was taking an Account of the Lead & Ore received, as well as of the delivery of the Lead.  William Westgarth has been an Assistant to him for near two Years, I have heard a good Character of him as to his honesty, Sobriety & diligence as such I shall recommend him to you to succeed Mr Salkeld in case of his death etc.  The present price of refined Lead is £16 . 10 . 0 Comon £16 . 5. - .P Fodder Litharge £17 P Ton but I have not made any Considerable Sales nor is there at present any Quantity of Lead at Blaydon except the refinable.  A few days since I received a curious Collection of Seeds of Plants, Shrubs etc from my Daughter from South Carolina, & I have this day sent you by the Diligence a small Box containing an assortment of them, she says that some of them must have the Protection of the hot bed Frame or Green House, but many of them will thrive in the Common way, the sooner they are Sown the better, the Box is directed for you to be left at the New Black Bull Wakefield & a List of the Seeds is in the Box.              I am etc    John E Blackett





                                £1000 .                            Newcastle Bank  4th  April. 1786

                          One Month after Date pay to the Order of John Erasmus Blackett Esq.  

                         One Thousand Pounds           Value received

                                                                        For Bell Carr Cookson Widdrington & Co

To  Messrs Castell Powell Sumner & Co                                    Thos Gibson.           

                London                                       Pay the Contents to the order of Sir Thomas 

No  7953                                                    Blackett Bart.  Value in Acct.

                                                                                                                 John E. Blackett