Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 12 Mar 1764

To Sir Walter Blackett Bro[ne]t MP in                                      Newcas[tle] 12th March 1764            

Halfmoon Street Picadilly London 



Hon[our]d Sir   The demand for Lead at this point in the Year 1760.61 & 62 was not sufficient to take off your whole quantity; and this, rather than a Refusal of the current price in hopes of a better, was the cause of its accumulating. The price in 1760 was down at £11 p[er[ Fother; wch was £20 a Fo[the]r lower than your Lead had cost you ; But so much of It as could be got off last  Year was sold at a price better  by £38 & ½ p[er] Cent[u]m than if you had sold it in 1760 & even the present price is better by £29b & ½  p[er] Cent[um] than that would have been. The 6500 p[iece]s are not yet delivered but will come to about £6000 & you have as much more at market wch I shall endeavour to sell as soon and as well as I can for I doubt the price will decline further after the new stocks come down.

I reckon I shall be able to pay Mr Fenwick without drawing for the £500 you have borrowed in London.

All that has happened at Allanheads, to occasion report, is that in cutting cross to the Sun (East of the Gins) they have met with a great shake or hollow in the Low Limestone;where they have got a bing or two of ore; but there is no prospect of more at present.

As to Coalcleugh she was beginning to wear a better face; but a feeder of Water is broke out in the great Limestone, under the low level; wch was the most hopefull part of the Grove& Mr Westgarth is now struggling with it.

I have got Mr Thirlwells part of the Article for the purchase of Mollersteads in exchange for yours; and have acquainted Dr Sharp of it who writes me that the Governors of Queen Anns bounty have approved of the 	estate to be purchased for Whitley Chapel.

I am sorry for Mr Blackett; for at his time of life nature can scarce have strength to recover such a shock.

I hope you are better of your cold, and that better weather and your journey to Newcastle dissipate it intirely. I am he                                        H R



Note in margin    P.S.



I reckon above 30000 pieces of L[ea]d will be del[ivere]d to Blaydon this Y[ea]r. But how much before 1st Aug[us]t I cannot say- perhaps half. I have known very confident sales so late as told In that month you will Have a very Large sum to pay to yo[u]r Miners, for wch provision must be made by selling before 1st Aug[u]st.