Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 6 Mar 1801

Colonel Beaumont						Newcastle 6th. March 1801

Portman Square London				



Dear Sir

      I was favoured with your Letters of the 23d. and 25 ulto. the latter inclosing a Letter from Mr. Spence the Dentist to Mr. Summers which I delivered to him, and I acquainted Mr Spence with his Answer, but I omitted saying that Summers has the Appearance of being ignorant, & illiterate, and it is said that he is addicted to Liquor.-

      Your Lead Agents were with me on Tuesday & I had a good deal of Conversation with them on your Mine Concerns; inclosed I send you what I could collect from them as to the present State of your Mines, as well as the Prospect which offers of their Improvement &c.   The Carriage Pay to be made next Week, is considerable, but it becomes necessary at this time, as the Lead Company, G[reenwich]: Hospital, and the Halls & Co. pay their Lead & ore Carriage twice in the Year, & unless you do the same, you will loose a part of the Carriage; this Sum, with that paid for Gunpowder & the Supply of Corn for the Workmen will greatly reduce the Sum wanted to make the several Pays in May next, the Amount of which you shall be informed of as soon as the Lead Stewards make out the Pay Bills, or can form a guess of the Amount.-

      The Bishop of Durham’s Agent Mr. Emm has not yet informed me what Sum the Bishop demands on the renewal of the Lease of Kilhope & Welhope and of Lintzgarth, and the putting in a new Life; please acquaint me if it be agreeable to Mrs. Beaumont & you, that your Sons Life be inserted.-

      After Mr. Bates had consulted that Dobson or his foreman should set a Value on the trifling Articles of Furniture that were broke or missing, wch. amounted to the sum of £ [blank] Mr. Bates refused to accept of it saying they were not proper Judges of joiner’s Work and he sent another Bill which he expects shall likewise be paid but which I refus’d; Copies of which I enclose for your Direction.   No Lead at Blaydon except for refining; amounting to about 5,000 Pieces, is coming slowly down from Allen Mill, but the other Carriage will not start till about the end of April; I wish that the price of Lead may keep up, but I doubt it.-

      I hope to have it my Power to send Mr. Makepiece two Cakes of Silver next week. 

      I am &c. J.E.B.



I by this Post recd. Mr. Spence’s Letter.-