Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 8 Mar 1761

To Sir Wr Blackett Bt. M.P. at his ho[use] in Charles Street near St James’s Square London

                                                                                                                                Newcastle 8th Mar 1761

Sir  The success that apparently attended the Durham mob on Saturday senight has encouraged the same sort of people in No[rthumber]land to obstruct the Constable & Deputy Leiutenants in the Execution of their duty. Mr Ogle of Cawsey parks funeral wch was on Monday served as an Excuse for many of the deputy Leiuten[an]ts not meeting at Morpeth that day; tho’ the real one was, I believe, the likelihood of mischief. Mr Fenwick of Bywel going to that funeral was stop’d in Chaise near Morpeth He got out & seized the man that held his horses, but was struck at by some of the mob, & hurt a little in the head & arm; after wch he with difficulty got to Mr Naylors where the mob broke the windows & did other damage before they co[ul]d be pacified. Mr Fenwick has got the names of 4 or 5 of the offenders & intends to punish them.

At Whittingham & Belford the deputy Lieuten[an]ts went thro’ the appeals, but could not do the other business of the meeting, for want of the lists wch had been taken from the Constables by the mob. The meeting at Hexham is tomorrow, where tho’ it is expected there will be a great & very unruly mob, yet the deputy Lieuten[an]ts, I am told, are determined to do their duty: & to support them therein six companies of the Yorkshire Militia marched thither this morning.

This Ferment happens a little unluckily in that quarter, as your stewards will be upon the road on Tuesday with money for Dukesfield Allanh[ea]ds & Coalcleugh pays; wch cannot now be postponed.  I am etc    HR