Letter – Joseph Richmond to Christopher Denton – 17 Feb 1734

To Mr Denton							Newcastle 17 Febry 1733

Dr Sir

      Mr Blackett sent one of his servants along with the Packett on Friday last with his petition for an act of parliam[en]t to take the name of Blackett, & I hope he will be with you tomorrow. I will return you Cap. Midfords annuity as soon as I possibly can but cant yet tell you when it will be, for the Spring trade does not yet comence & I must sell some lead before I can make that payment, The Capt came to this place last Friday, was arrested yesterday at the suit of one Baines for about 40£ & is now in Goal. He got 50 guinneas of Mr Blackett about three months agoe & his expectancy of having the same repeated has brought him here again, but there is no End of supplying his Demand, unless the money can be stopt out of his annuity I am therefore ordered by Mr Blackett to desire you will upon receipt hereof enquire how far, I mean how long & in what Manner he has engaged his annuity in w[hi]ch you are desired to be as particular as you can & at the same time let me know what method you think is best for Mr Blackett to use in order to secure his own money in case he Discharges him out of his present Confinement for he will undoubtedly engage his annuity afresh on the expiration of this present term, w[hi]ch he declares ends at Lammas next, when he says there will be 160£ more than satisfise his present Engagem[en]t, but this I question, because it agrees not with what he said when here before

      Pray answer this by Return of the post for Mr  Blackett is uneasie at his confinement & send me a copy of his assignment to, in Contract with Robinson (&) w[hi]ch Mr Blackett desires to see before payment of any more money, I will write Mr Greive as advised in yr last  I am  Sir

				Yr most h[um]ble Servant

							J R