Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 29 Dec 1761

To Sir Wr. Blackett Bt. as above                                                                 29 December 1761

Hon[ou]rd Sir   Mr John Cookson tells me that it is not Mr Dixon but himself that is to assist Mrs Featherston, & that Mr Stewart is to collect the acco[un]t of the debts.

I find by him, ie Mr Cookson, that the debts already known amount to above £10000 & that he does not think there will be enough to pay the cred[ito]rs. Please therefore to consider whe[the]r it is proper to secure to yourself that preference wch you are intitled to as Landland [Landlord], by seizing the hay & horses upon your farm at Kenton, or you will rather take an uncertain divid[en]d with the rest of the creditors. If the horses were to be seized I imagine the other cred[ito]rs wo[ul]d join in paying or securing your rent, rather than suffer you to proceed to sale- for tho they value the horses there at above £1000 probably in such a sale they wo[ul]d not fetch above a quar[te]r of that valuation Mr Dixon’s & Mr Shafto of Dunston’s debts amount to about 7000 all upon no better security than Bonds & notes, as Mr Cookson says he beleives   I am etc   HR