Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 13 Oct 1770

A Mr   Mr Le Chevalier Blackett  Seigneur Anglois                        Newcas.   13th  Octor 1770

Chez Monsr. Louis Julien    Rue Simon Le Franc à Paris

               

Honrd. Sir      I have been at Wallington & the following is what I have learnt about the farms and other Matters there - that there are none to be let against Mayday , but <Chartners> and the piece of ground got in Exchange with Mr Errington (as to the former Mr Forster wants to know whether he is to try for any Advance in the Rent and whether he is to make any particular restrictions about the Game.  & as to the Latter he thinks it must be let to Hepple your Tenant at Ryal, to whose farm it adjoins) - that the Boundary Wall at Sweethope is not begun, because Mr Shafto does not abide by his promise of letting you build it and he paying half the Expence - that Handisides <onstead> has been new thatched and the Walls pointed - the plantation at Kirkhall fenced and the Wall in the Park, to inclose the new plantation adjoining Mr Swinburn built, - that the  Wall from Ewesley Gate to the Guidepost will be finished before Martins. - that the head of Sweethope Lake was nearly done before your order came to stop it, but it has not cost above 6 or £7, so the loss will not be great if you should alter it - that the roads are in good repair & the hedges look very well specially those that have been cut within these two years - that above 250 Roods of roads have been covered with Limestone this Summer.  that the Coal drift thro the Park is not driven above 100 Yards, being much obstructed by quicksands, tho Mr Brown is doing all he can to get thro them - that the Gardens & plantations are in pretty good order, considering that the Harvest & the bad weather has hindered the work in them a little but in a fortnights time all can be made clear - that the trees that were injured by the severe Spring are recovered, all but 3 peaches at the West End of the Store, & two or 3 Cherry trees, & that they are taken away in order to replant the Wall.  that the Store is well furnished with healthy plants to fruit next year - none having been produced in That house this year,  that Philip has killed Seven brace & a half of Moor Game & one brace of Partridge by Mr Brown’s order, tho I told both of them that your direction was Moor game only - 2 brace and a half of them were killed in Chartners, the rest in Mr Milbanks & the D of Northumberlands Liberty.  Mr Sadler says no Hares have yet been taken by Snares, that he knows of and that he will be attentive to this Article.

    Mr Evans has bottled the pipe of Madeira you bought of Mr Dasher & thinks it is very good - your port and Malt Liquor at Wallington are so.  Your Fisheries in the Tweed are let to Mr Douglass and partners for one year at £330 for the Bells, £30 for Needle Eye & White Sands & £1 . 10s . 0d for Archbolds Close, being the Rents they had them at last year & Lucker is let to Mr Forster for another Year at £80 as before.  I do not hear of any Intention to apply for an Act of Parliament this year for the Tweed fisheries; but have wrote to Mr Douglass & will let you know in my next.  

    Mr Cuth. Lambert, Son to the Doctor, who was a Land Waiter in the Customs at this Port died this morning & I find Mr Ridley has wrote to Lord North in favour of Mr Ralph Watson, eldest Son of Mr Wm Watson  the Mace Bearer, & mentioned that he is  relation of your’s, & that he presumed you would apply for him; but that you are now at Paris.

     Dr Hall and Aldn. Forster had a violent Altercation on the Bench at the Sessions; and the Alderman insisted on the Dr.’s going, or being carried, out of Court - he chose the former & has since appealed to the Public, in the News papers!   Mr & Mrs Mosely are very well and desire their Compliments.  Hexham Bridge and the Roads to it are finished & certified for by Sir Ed. Blackett  and Sir Lanct. Allgood.  I have paid the Undertakers & published for the Subscribers to pay their Money.  I find it was taken notice of at the Sessions for Northumberland that the County ought to have Security, as has been usual, that this Bridge should not be a Charge to It for Seven Years.  The £250 unpaid of the £1000 subscribed by them is not ordered to be paid; but I cannot yet learn that it is withheld from want of such Security.  The inclosed is what I wrote to Mr Colld. Forster about Lucker - he has given me no answer tho I hear he got the Letter: you will please to let me know if I must write again to him.   I am etc    HR