Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 11 Jan 1769

To Sir Wr Blackett Baro[ne]t M.P. Half Moon Street

Piccadilly London                                                                          Newca[stle] 11 Janry 1768 (sic)

Hon[ou]r[e]d Sir

I think you cannot pay off Mr Simond’s £1500, and intrest in March next; without borrowing for it. For Dukesfield and the partnership pays and Hexham Bridge, with the Subsistence to the Mines, and other usual payments will drain your Chest, before Money can be got for the new Stock of Lead, that is to come down this Summer.

I have sent to go by the Fly that will set out to morrow morning, a box directed to You containing a plan of Langtihead boundary; with a Writing beneath if to be signed by Lord Darlington and You settling that dispute. His L[or]ds[hi]p has a duplicate of this plan and writing and it is intended that both parts should be signed by him and You. The part which you keep may be brought hither when you return. I have paid the Carriage of the Box.

The Engrossments of the deed for the purchase of Hexham East Ferry are now before Mrs Jurin; as soon as she has executed them I will get Mr Colpitts to do so and then send then to Mr Darwin.

The Christian Name of Mr Stephenson Curate of All Saints is George.

Mr Bell and Mr Forster are returned from Berwick where the Tenants have paid their rents very well; All but Jno Anderson of Middle Ord who is two half years behind as usual.

The Summary of what Mr Bell and Mr Forster tell me about the Fisheries etc is, That the design of the Bill proposed by the Mayor of Berwick and others is chiefly to regulate the times of fishing and to prevent an increase of the Number of Boats and Nets used by each proprietor and any Alterations of the Sort of Net that each has been acccustoned to – but Mr Grey will send you the heads of the Bill before the General Meeting & acquaint you of the day in July on which it is to be held. They are informed your Fisheries will not admit of Improvement further than what may be made by taking up some Rocks that obstruct your using a Ware sheet net in that particular part – the Cost of doing which would perhaps be a balance for any Gain to be got by it. They saw Mr Ord about the Bridge but could not come to any conclusion with him as he has taken it into his head to dispute the pathway, & threatened to cut the plank if laid down; but Mr Grey was desired to talk a little with him upon this Matter. As to the Colliery the Tenants have only wrought 107 Tons instead of the 200 they are allowed for the Certain rent, chiefly owing, as is said to something gone wrong in the Engine which stopt them to two months. & lastly they say Mr Forster of Lucker has promised to write you very soon & make some offer for that farm.

Inclosed is a List of the Linnen at Hexham Abby with an Acco[un]t in the Margin of what Mrs Hepple thinks should be bought to make it Sufficient. What you please to order may be bought here and made up by the servants during their present leisure time.

Mr Mosley is obliged to you for the apology for not answering his Letter; and says he will continue to write whenever he meets with any thing he thinks worth your Notice. & Mr Peareth promises to write you after the Guild which is next Monday. He and many others are of opinion that Mr Wilkinsons Gate ought to be stop’d up. As to the Keelmen they are all very quiet and at their work and the Fitters are framing a Bill for the purposes that they wanted part of their Money to be stop’d for, and propose giving them Copies of it for their Consideration. I am etc    HR