Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 10 Jan 1764

To Sir Walter Blackett Beamont M.P.                                      Newcastle 10th January 1764

In Halfmoon Street Picadilly London 



Honourable Sir        Your part of the partnership Pay bills which I received last Week, amounts to 2764.4.5 ½ ; and as the money for this Pay must be kept ready, to wait Mr. Bacon’s motions, I think it would not be advisable  to pay the 600 for the purchase of Mollersteads out of the Residue of your present Cash, Lest these should be a want for necessary Occasions. & therefore I have spoke again to my Brother about another 1000 which I hope he may procure time enough.or perhaps that purchase money need not be paid for two or three months.

There appears at this time so general a scarcity of money that I believe it will be better to postpone advertising Ord or any part of the trust estate till a more plentiful time.

I told Mr. Manuel what you mentioned about his son.

Mr. Smith desires me to give his fathers compliments & his, & to acquaint you, that the Old Gentleman is better than when you left Newcastle.

Mr. C. Hunter was here lately & I told him about prosecuting the Tryals under his management with more spirit. But Mr. Maughan & Mr. Westgarth seem very alert, & so I said nothing to them at present, there is nothing particular from the mines; only Mr. Hunter says he has found the vein at Hackford, but she does not carry Ore;  however he hopes that a little further on she may prove as rich as in Mr. Bakers liberty adjoining: As ever she has often been barren for several yards together. As to Coalcleugh  Mr.  Westgarth seems unwilling to raise great Expectations, but yet I guess he will raise more Ore this year than has been got there in any year lately.

We have had some days of severe Weather, but it is now very mild again.& and your usual charity of Beef & Bread & Sixpences which amounted to near £90 has been distributed to the Poor of this town since Christmas so that they have no cause of complaint at present.

Your new Gardner, with his wife & child is now here & will go to Wallington tomorrow.. P.S. –