Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 31 Mar 1767

To Sir Wr Blackett Bt MP in Halfmoon Street                                         Newcastle 31 Mar 1767

Piccadilly London

Hon[ou]r[e]d Sir

My Brother will try if he can raise £1000 on yo[u]r bond at 4 pc & if he succeeds will send a bond up for you to execute. Mr Smith still continues ill: but I have seen Mr Newton his attorney: & as soon as an instrum[en]t for the Conveyance can properly be executed it will be got done. Mr Robson had made a kind of distress on the Goods of Geo Brown of Fenwick but had allowed him time to raise Money. He has as yet only raised £200 & there still remains £415 due to you are Martin[ma]s last. I sent Laidler to him on Monday Se[ven]night since w[hi]ch he has been with me & promised to bring £200 on Saturday se[ven]night – if he fails therein I shall give Laidler directions to proceed to sale. Mr Lisle says nothing material has passed between him & Mr Robson about the Threap Ground. As soon as Mr Liddell can be spared from attending Mr Brown with Mr Robson’s books, in order to settle his Acco[un]t he will go over to Unthank & do what he can. I think it will be impracticable for Mr Liddell to serve in the two capacities of Land Steward & Butler.

Mr Peareth has looked over the Calculation of your profits by Weardale mines & the papers are now before Mr Cookson.

Six Kitts of Salmon will be sent in the first Ship – but as to the method of pickling them I doubt it will not be easy to obtain a good Receipt for it, those possessed of such being people who gain a Livelyhood thereby & will therefore think it their intr[es]t to be misterious – but I will try to get one.

I have rec[eiv]ed a Summons to meet Mr Brown & Mr Geo Robson to morrow at Wallington about Mr Robson’s Acco[un]ts. I am etc       HR

P.S. I have since I wrote the above received Your Letter mentioning that Mr Wray of Hexham has offered himself. I do not know him personally but I have heard him spoken of as a person very well qualified for the place; as having Experience in husbandry & a knowledge in building & Figures. I hear he was to have served Mr Ridley, but ill health at that time prevented him.  I am etc    HR