Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 28 Jul 1770

A Monsieur   Monsieur Le Chevalier Blackett                                        Newcas.   28  July 1770

    Seigneur Anglais   chez Mr Oglevy a Spa   Aupres de

    Leige   < par>  Ostende



Honrd.  Sir      Your Letter from Spa of the 16th instant I reced. on Thursday & this Morning Willm. Hall is gone with the Letter to the Duchess who is in London.  I have wrote to Mr Brown and told Philip about killing, and keeping an Acct. of, Moor Game for her Grace till the return of Hall.  Today I have sent a Bill for £1000 to Messrs. Simond & Hankey, which will be due about the Middle of next month.  The £1200 for the Purchase of the Boat and Boat rake is paid; but the Subscriptions come in so slowly that the Bridge is a heavy Charge on your state.    Mr Forster & Mr Bell are going to Berwick next week to receive the Rents and look after the Lands and other Estates there.  The Fishery was let to Messrs Douglass & Lambert at the Old rent of £330 for one year, which Ends at Michs. next so you will please to give directions whether it may be continued at that rate for another year to them, or otherwise.   Mr Forster on his return by Lucker is to value the Tithes there, in conjunction with one Bewick that was employed before; and then we will pursue your direction about fixing a Sum at which to offer them to the Duke of Northumberland,

   Sir Edward & Lady Blackett are proposing to go to Wallington for a day or two, as soon as our Assizes are over; which begin on the 20th of next month.  he says you know of their Intention. so I shall on his giving a few days notice send out Beef & other necessaries for their accommodation; as the Servants are all at Board Wages.

     Sir Edwds. brother, the parson, has on the Death of Dr <Tew> of Boldon obtained an Exchange, with the Bishop of Durham, of that Living for his in the South I hope upon pretty equal Terms.  I gave your Compliments to Mr Scott the Officer; who. I think having been in his Company two or three times, is a very lively & yet a very well behaved young man - he was at Aldn. Blacketts for some time but now has lodgings; so I have sent him some Grapes & a Pine Apple.  There will not be any Bucks killed till Ag[ain]st the Assizes  after which I shall send him half a one; as you have ordered. I shod. be glad to know if half a one will do for Sir Edward?  We have an exceeding bad Hay Harvest, the Wet Weather still continuing & the Byroads & Moor so deep that I fear I shall not get Lead enough to Market.   Dr Hall & Dr Wilson  are to read a Chemical Lecture next week.  wherein they are to prove the wholesomeness of the Coxlodge Water.  this may have a good Effect, and remove the prejudice occasioned by Dr Rotherams report of it.  None has yet been sent to Edinbro’ as the Weather has been too wet to take it up pure Enough.   I have given your Compliments to the several Gentlemen you ordered me.  I do not observe any diminution in the Health of any of them or any others of your neighbours or friends since you left them, but rather a particular Cheerfulness on hearing the good Accounts of your Health.  No one rejoices more at it than Etc  as HR