Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 19 Feb 1765

To Sir W[alte]r Blackett B[arone]t MP in half moon street        Newcas[tle] 19th Febr[uar]y 1765

Piccadilly London

Hon[ou]rd Sir       I have sent under this and another cover one of the former Bills for the division of Bulbeck Comon altered according to what Mr Robinson informed me was to be carried into the House this sessions. I have examined it and do not see any thing amiss in it except the two or three articles mentioned in the margin.

As to the Bills for dividing Bollihope & Wolsingham Commons I have neither seen nor heard any thing of them; wch is to be sure very strange, considering that you are so much interested in both these commons as being Moor Master By the Lease for Lives under the Bishop. By the custom of that office of Moor Master you can work the Lead mines in these Comons without paying any thing for damages the same priviledge ought to be preserved after the inclosure; otherwise you may be a sufferer, tho[ugh] the Bishop will be a Gainer, by his sixteenth, or his 4d an acre, for his consent to divide Woodcroft, let at £90 a year is the Estate for which you claim Common upon Bollihope; and Wolsingham closes, let at £6 a year, is the whole Estate for which you have Common on Wolsingham Fell. It would be right if you please, to send down copies of these two Bills as soon as they are printed. 

With regard to Crawcrook Common, I cannot find that you are concerned therin? Nor that Sir William Blackett ever was, tho[ugh] I have examined all the abstracts I have of writings and all the Books of Acco[un]ts of the Family since the year 1670. You have 1/12 of Stella grand Lease Colliery, but Mr Simpson and some other Owners who know the Limit’s of that Lease tell me it does not extend to Crawcrook. Mr Silvertop who has farmed and wrought most of the shares of that Lease can tell best whether it extends to Crawcrook: if not, I am satisfied you are not concerned in that division.

Mr & Mrs Blackett desire their compliments to you; He and the children are pretty well, but Mrs Blackett continues in the same way as when you left Newcastle.

I acquainted Mr Simpson of Mr Liddel’s petition: people in general seem averse to his Hoppers, and sorry for the trouble they occasion you. I was sorry to hear you had got a cold, but hope it is gone off as you say nothing of it.

A good deal of snow fell here yesterday, since which it has froze hard; but I hope it will not be  long continuance as the Winter is so far spent. I am etc       Hen Richmond