Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 4 May 1770

A Monsieur

Monsieur Le Chevalier Blackett  Bt.  M.P.  

Seigneur Anglois               

Chez Monsr. Vandenclooster  Banquier                                           Newcas.  4th May  1770

                      A Bruxelles & Oostende



Honrd Sir     I received your Letters from London of the 23rd of last month and shall be attentive to the several particulars contained in them: and I shall remit £100 to Mr Darwin in a little time & £1000 in July to Messrs Simond and Hankey; and be ready to remit £600 a quar. to them after August in Case you do not write to the Contrary.       I have been at Wallington this week receiving the rents, which were paid as well as usual at this Season of the year.  the Weather continues exceedingly cold that we have no Spring, & Mr Duffield thinks the fruit will suffer much by it.  The Masons, Carpenters, Labourers etc are lessened; & by degrees the Expense at Wallington will be contracted into a Manageable Compass.   The Bill of Rights party in this Town does not appear to increase.  At the several places of Entertainment on the day of Mr Wilkes’s Release £10 . 11s . 0d was subscribed for him; & Advertisements published that Books were opened at the several Coffeehouses to receive further Subscriptions: but I do not find they have got any. 

     As soon as the Ground is dryer that Coxlodge water can be taken up unmixed, with Rain or other Water, I will send a sufficient Quantity of it to Dr Black professor of Chymistry at Edinburgh; for his examination of it.    Mr Thomas Oliphant <Lessate>, at Rothbury, has shown me a Minute of your writing about £30 a piece for two Boys for their apprentice fee, but as it does not amount to an Order for me to pay it I have put him off till I should receive your direction about it.  

     I hear Scremerston Colliery is on Fire - it is not known how it has happened, but Mr Brown hopes to get it extinguished soon.  This Accident cannot affect your Colliery at Unthank, except by inducing your Tenants to continue the Lease of her

   Mr Errington has paid the Four hundred and seventy pounds, due on his promissory Note, & I have charged it in my Cash Account.

    The Servants frocks & suits are growing very bad, they having had them almost a year; so that I doubt it will be necessary, before you come home, to give them new ones; but I shall put off as long as possible.   It will be a Satisfaction to me to know that you are well.          I am etc    HR