Letter – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 16 Jun 1734

To Wr Blackett Esqr 							Newcastle 16th June 1734



Honrd Sr

      Nothing materiall has offered since my last, here has been the least company I ever saw, few of the Northumb[erlan]d Gentlemen being at the Races. Your two Plates were carried from the Towns hall, & attended by a few friends that thought fitt to go out with them without any Invitation, so that there was not the least Noise or bustle about <th..> w[hi]ch would have been Inavoidable if you had been in Town, & I do not here that you being away is taken amiss by any body. Mr Shaftoe of Whitworth has sent you three Fawns. I gave the servant that brought them half a guinea. I have returned Mr Brinsdon 18 dozen & half of Burgundy, & this day, I rec[eiv]ed  four Hampiers of Wine w[hi]ch I presume comes from him. The bad state of Affairs abroad gives generall a Damp to all Trade, our  French Correspondents wont buy a Pig of Lead at any price, so that Commodity must still sink considerably, wee have a great Quantity at Markett but I cant sell at any price I have not sold above 3000ps this year, whereas by this time in former Years wee seldom fell short of 10 or 11000ps, so that I know not what to do with the Corporation who begin to make a great <Armour>, there being a Years Interest behind the 14 next month & I have not 100 towards paying them. As to the Rents what I have got this Year is most sunck at Wallington. This is a disagreable Acco[un]t, but as it is a true one I hope you will think it my Duty to lay it before you. Below is an Acco[un]t of the Races, Sr Edwd is still here, he has lost the <Main>. I am

	Honrd Sr Yrs etc J.R.