Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 15 Dec 1792

Thomas Richd Beaumont Esqr                                                       Newcastle  15th Decr 1792

            Bretton near Wakefield   Yorkshire



Dear Sir	I lately received a Letter from Messrs Walkers & Co of Rotherham inclosing a Paper Containing a Number of Charges against me, which they inform me was a Copy of that sent to you.

	I must confess that I was very much surprised at the Contents of it, & that it has given me some uneasiness being Conscious of not having given Messrs Walkers & Co any real Cause of Complaint, & of having Acted to the best of my power for the Interest of those that I have been, & am at present Concerned;  The Sales of Lead which I have made for some Years past have exceeded in price those of other Concerns.

	You must be sensible how very unpleasant a task it must be to Answer such a String of Charges as have been alledged against me, & tho’ I flatter myself from the Confidence that has been reposed in me that I should not be called on by you to do it, yet on this occasion for your satisfaction I have Answered the several Charges that have been brought against me which I shall be happy to find meets with your Approbation;  It is certainly necessary that a Confidence should be placed in the Person (whoever he may be) that has the disposal of your Lead & if he is on every occasion to be Accountable to the several Dealers for every Sale that he makes, your Interest must Suffer & no Person of Credit would undertake the business.

	I shall acknowledge the reciept of Messrs Walkers & Co letter & refer them to you for the Answer to the several Charges against me;  If you should think proper to send them a Copy of my Answer?  I have no objection, I think myself unhandsomly treated, & I cannot submit to be accountable to them for my Conduct in the Sale of your Lead etc             I am etc  J.E.B