Letter – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 1 May 1760

To Sir Walter Blackett MP at his house in Pall Mall London                                          1 May 1760



Honble Sir

      I think it very unreasonable in the B[isho]p to require particular acct of your working the Groves and the profits arising from them, and what you should not submit to in case it can any way be avoided. I dare say it is a thing never before requested on the renewal of any colliery or lead mine lease. But as you think it must be submitted to I have drawn out an acct of the profits made by the ore raised in the enclosures held under Sandersons lease for the last 30 yrs to the best of my judgement and belief, both with and without Great Slitt, wch can never be proved to have been wro[ugh]t within the inclosures held under Sandersons lease, unless for the last 3 yrs it may have been so in Messrs Shields pasture, and who can now tell that that field was inclosed 100 yrs ago but Mr Wilkinson and his p[art]ner are so provoked at losing so fine a bargain wch they made themselves sure of that they will endeavour to make the Bp as hard upon you as they can. But let Mr Wilkinsons representations be what he pleases the inclosed is a true state of the case as far as I am able to give it for 30 yrs. And surely it cant be expected to single out some of the best yrs in that time, wch you can never agree to For admitting the Slitt Grove to be now in an ancient inclosure she is <just> going out of it into the waste, as set forth in the Memorial 

     Yesterday I recd of Lady Loraine £750 wch I have placed to acct.

     I will take care to send up the money you order ag[ain]st the 1st June, wch I doubt must be by the carrier. Please to let me know wher I am to send the carriers note to you or to Mr Darwin and also when I am to remit to him the £1000 to pay off Mr Hasland. As for Mrs Lyons money I think it is not to be pd till 1st Nov? and as I remember you said you had paid £100 of it wch I presume you have a discharge for.

     The cottagers at Winlaton have intred into an Article to try the Lords with regard to their houses, and I am told about 80 of them have signed it. Sir Edward’s steward has taken Mr Fawcetts opinion upon the case and he makes it clear in favour of the Lords and advises to serve ejectments. The cottagers on the other hand say they are advised they can hold under the ancient rent and refuse to come into any agreement for a lease or any advance. I presume you will hear soon from Sir Edward on this subject. We have scarse had any rain since you left Newcastle yet the corn it is agreed looks very well, tho there is little grass

      PS as this is time for entring the carriages, I desire to know how many you chose to have entred this year and whether you intend to continue the 20 guineas a year to Dr Lambert. I have just now recd your letr of the 1st inst and hope w[ha]t is set forth in the inclosed estimate will induce the Bp to set a reasonable Fine. I do assure you it is a fair and just acct to the best of my knowledge. 

     There has been a mutiny among the militia at Berwick raised by 9 or 10 men on acct of their wages, wch they wanted to be pd from the date of the Kings order to embody them, wch money the officers have not received yet but the ring leader who has also struck his Sergeant having been tryed and rcd 100 lashes Mr Moseley tells me all is quiet again and it is not doubted but this example will have a good effect and prevent any further disturbance. As to the colliers I do not hear but at present are very quiet. All Mr Edens creditors except one whose debt is under £100 have agreed to supercede the Commiss[ioner]s and the settling his affairs is left to Messrs Surtees and Burdon Mr J Atkinson and Mr Doubleday but I apprehend he can never act any more as a magistrate. The lead mils pay will be made up on Wednesday about £2400

I am &c JR