Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 25 Dec 1772

Mr. Darwin    Hatton Street No. 4                                                      Newcas. 25th Decr. 1772

                                   London



Sir

	Sir Walter Blackett & Sir Edwd. have agreed to make an equal Division of the Land & Houses wch. they have in Winlaton as tenants in Common under Sir Wm. the Gd. fathers Will which will be beneficial to both parties - to Sr. Ed: as he wants to sell - & to Sr. Wr. as he may get a bad partner especially in certain Closes at Blaydon necessary for his Lead Works adjoining the River there & wch. are to be allotted to Sir Walter in the first place and an Equivalent given Sr. Edwd. in another part.  As all Trust Accots. are closed and no Money to be had from that quar. for defraying Sr. Wrs. half of the Expense of the Act - & Division (wch. perhaps may amount to £150 or £200 as the Division will be made chiefly by Sr. Wrs & Sr. Edwds. own Agents) it is proposed to raise the necessary Sum by mortgaging  the part allotted to Sir Wr. - but you will please to consider whether the £173. 3s 0d purchased in the 3 pr. Cent Bank Annuities Consol in the name of Accountant Genl. of the Court of Chancery can be made any use of in this Affair - It is also under Mr. Fawcett’s & Mr. Wilson’s Consideration how to order about the Title Deeds of this Estate that Sr. Edwd. may have something to show when he offers his part to Sale

	You know all the Deeds of the Blackett Moiety of this Estate are with you so you will consider about it and how Sir Walter can enter into any Covenant about producing them which his Heirs may not have in their power to fulfil - For you must know that this Division is proposed to be effected by Articles of Agreement between Sr. Wr. and Sr. Edwd. and Sir Thos. Wentworth (for whom Mr Wilson is concerned) & that Mrs. Goddon & if Representatives of the other Sisters of the late Sr. Wm. Blackett are to be parties to the Deed or at least are to give their Consent before parliament.  it is also thought that in case any of Sr. Wm’s. Sisters have made Wills and devised their contingent Interests in these Estates all the persons claiming under such Wills must either be parties or give their Consents in parliament - but you will be wrote to tonight more particularly by Mr. Jacob Lambert the Attorney who is employed on Sr. Edwd’s. behalf in this Business & I suppose will also be concerned for Sr. Wr. in it as he is in other Matters in this neighbourhood

	We have other Business going forward about ascertaining the Boundary between Blanchland and Hexham Manors wch. has been a Dispute about a Century but is now become more considerable than formerly by Ld. Crews Trustees riding in at their last perambulation a fresh Tract of Ground so that now above 2000 Acres are to be adjusted and This is to be done by Comrs. to be appointed by parliamt. in a Bill wherein many other Disputes wch. these Trustees have with others are to be settled - You have been or soon will be wrote to by Mr Heron of Hexham whom Sir Wr. has appointed his attorney in this Matter - I wish you would consider what is to be done with Mr. Chris. Johnson about the postea in the Indictment of the Lead Way for I can make nothing of him

	I wish you and Mrs. Darwin many happy Returns of this Season- P.S.  Money is proposed to be raised by Mortgage of a part of the Hexham Estate to defray the Expense of settling the Boundary of Hexham & Blanchland - if this plan is to be executed you will consider whether Westburnhope will not be the readiest Title - and   am etc    HR



P.S.  I shod be glad to know if the Intrt. of the £173. 3s. 0d has been reced ysty [yesterday] or how much has been reced that I may make an Entry of it in Sr. Wr’s. Books