Letter – Henry Richmond to Isaac Hunter – 15 Jun 1765

To Mr Isaac Hunter Jun[io]r at                            Newcas[tle       15th June 1765

Dukesfield



Sir       Yesterday Mr Isaac Thompson shewed me a Letter from Sam[ue]l Swalwell acquainting him of the notice you had given him that you would set on the Lead carriage and come along the road from Edmondbiers to Blaydon without paying him any acknowledgement and I see he (that is Swalwell) is endeavouring to stir up Lord Northumberland to defend the road to be a private one: But Mr Thompson tells me he has not given him any orders neither will support him as yet in stopping the carriage. But that he will order the matter to be enquired into & the testimony of the old people in the neighbourhood to be taken & that before he acquaints his Lordship or engages in any dispute with Sir W[alte]r Blackett about this matter he will let me know; that some further consideration may be had about this matter. Therefore if any obstruction is given by stopping up the Way, in locking Gates or erecting Barrs, they may as Mr Widdrington advises me, be removed or broke down provided it can be done without tumultuous or riotous proceedings: so that if any such obstruction is given and should be supported by force the Lead must be laid down and the carriers must take care to inform themselves of the names of the persons that withstand their passage along the Highway or at least what is proved to us to be a highway by the several old witnesses that we have examined.

I must beg you will give a particular attention to the conduct of the Mill clerk of Rookhope Mill; for besides the blunders that were made last year in the delivery of the Lead I have such repeated complaints from all parts of the badness of Sir Walters Lead that I am sure there must be some very great mismanagement at that Mill in the smelting of the Lead. There may possibly be faults at the other Mills and therefore you ought to give attention to those clerks also: but as much the greatest quantity is smelted at Rookhope Mill and as the business there is left to that young man by reason of his Fathers Infirmity I think it is most probably his fault. But where ever it be may be diligent in remedying it for if we once debase the character of Sir Walters Lead a Life time will scarce suffice to recover it. I am etc   H R