Letter – Henry Richmond to Robert Shafto – 8 May 1761

To Robt Shafto Esq. M.P. at Whitworth by Durham                           Newcastle 8 May 1761

Sir         

Mr Hen Wilkinson & I attended at Durham on Tuesday last as you appointed & went thro’ all the Agents bills, wch Mr Swainston had then got in. After considering the great number of days charged by most of them for canvassing, & the vicinity of many of the places, wch they charge distinct days for canvassing at, we co[ul]d not help thinking that 10s.6d a day, over & above their horse hire & all expenses, which Mr Swainston assured us they had charged separately, was an ample satisfaction, for such journies; for the best attornies do not charge their constant clients above 13s.4d a day besides expenses. As to the days on wch any of the agents have canvassed the places of their own residence, we in general supposed 6s.8d a day might be sufficient & have allowed no more; tho’ indeed the agents for some towns may deserve double what others do. Mr Swainston & Mr Hugal were desired to examine, lest any of the agents may have omitted charging their horse hire; for 10s.6d a day will be too little where that is the case; & indeed in some other cases it may not be adequate to the trouble wch some agents may have had. But as to particular merit we referred the consideration of that to L[or]d Darlington & yourself having stuck pretty closely to the above rule. Only we tho[ugh]t it reasonable to allow Mr Ralph Robson a Guinea a day when upon his Norham Canvass over & above his Expences, as those Expeditions were attended with great Fatigue to him. We also have allowed a Guinea a day to the agents who were employ[e]d in Durham during the Election in taking the poll etc. Whatever his Lords[hi]p & you may think proper to pay the agents, whether the sums we have made their Bills amount to, or more, as the case may require; it is our opinion that it ought to be expressed in an Even sum without descending to any particular valuation of their time, or letting them know what that has been reckoned worth by the day. besides this method will give them no opportunity of comparing one with another, what is given by way of Gratuity above what their bills were made to amount to  I am etc      HR