Letter – Joseph Richmond to Richard Harrison – 20 Apr 1762

To Mr Richd Harrison of

Coalcleugh                                                                              Newcastle 20th Ap[r]il 1762



Sir / Inclosed is a copy of a proposal made by Wm Summers & partners to work for coal in Allendale; as that district wch they want to have granted them is so large, & the term so long the rent seems to be too small. As I dare say you know the country well, & w[ha]t prospect it affords for Coal, I sho[ul]d be very glad to have yo[u]r Opinion, whether any inconvenience can follow on y[ou]r having all the ground to work between E. & W. Allan belonging to S[i]ir W[alte]r, or how they ought to be Limited & also w[ha]t rent you think they ought to pay, for Mr Ellis thinks they will give more, than they have proposed in the written paper: for he says they are very pressing for a Lease. He has offer’d to let them a Lease of that Liberty for 7 yrs at £1.0s.0d for the 1st yr  £5.0s.0d a yr for the 2nd & 3rd, & £10.0s.0d for the remainder. Or else to Lett it for 21 yrs at £1.0s.0d for the 1st yr £5.0s.0d for the 2nd & 3rd yrs & £20.0s.0d for the remaining yrs. But they don’t yet agree to either of these offers. I shall be glad to have an ans[we]r as soon as you conveniently can, & that when you go to Hexham you will give Mr Ellis all the Information you can ab[ou]t the matter. I am etc     J R