Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 14 Feb 1764

To Sir Walter Blackett, Baro[ne]t MP                       Newcas[tle]   14th Febry        1764

In Halfmoon Street Picadilly London



Hon[ou]rd Sir     I have received the thousand pounds of Mr Simpson for your Bond & have charged it in my Cash acco[un]t.

That Messrs Peareth & Sorsbie have of late years been the principal purchasers of your lead has been owing to the War: wch turned that trade chiefly into the hands of Merchants in London for whom they are  concerned & it has been advantageous to you that they gave your lead the [the] preference :for the other  lead Merchants here who used to have the foreign Comissions, Except Mr Ra Carr have had little to do in this trade. Probably the demand will increase this year & foreign Comissions find their Way again to this post, as before the War Mr Simonds used to buy lead at this post, & I find he corresponds with Peareth & Lorsbie. I wish he would employ them to buy lead of you. Mr Bawn & some others whose circumstances require it, are selling parcels of 3 or 400 p[iece]s at 14.5.0 p[er] Fother wch is a great Reduction.

Rob[er]t Wall who is nephew to the Towns Marshall,was a freeholder & voted for Mr Vane  & Mr Shaftoe thro[ugh] his Uncle’s influence on your Acco[unt] but he has since proved a very indiscreet irregular young Man, & has used his Uncle very ill, tho[ugh] 3 or £400 advanced him & other kindnesses deserved better treatment.        

As to the Road Bill, some copies have been sent down & people seem to be pretty well acquainted of the nature of it. Mr Ord had one from Mr Delaval & has sent him some observations upon it. I find he & the other Coal Owners want to have the Water Sale Collieries Exempt but think it reasonable that Landsale Collieries should be charged ; the former do no damage to the Highways, as the Coals are conveyed from the pitts along Ways, made on purpose, quite down to the Riverside. As to Leadmines it will not be reasonable to charge them ;because the Lands in the parishes where they are wrought owe their value almost intirely to them. I am                                                                          H R