Letters – Joseph Richmond to Christopher Denton – 11 May 1756

To Mr Chris. Denton Grey's Inn London

Newcastle 11 May 1756

Dr Sir

	Inclosed is Peareth & Sorsbie's bill on Stainbank  & Freeman for £250.0.0 wch I desire you will place to my acct & advise rec[eip]t of.  Lady Blackett desires me to send her £100.0.0 as soon as I can; wch I must request you will pay her as soon as convenient; for I cannot get a Bill as a shorter date than w[ha]t I send you inclosed. You must desire her Ladys[hi]p to sign a rec[eip]t for a qua[rte]rs  payment wch will be due the 1st Aug next, & send it me down when you let her have the money.

	I have rec[eiv]ed 20 Guin[ea]s of Mr Jno. Ord & plac[e]d it to yo[u]r acct.

	Yesterday I proved Sr.Wr's Debt on Carricks Comiss[io]n, when the same assignees were continued; & tho they are all sensible th[a]t the continuance of Mr Davidson as Soll[icito]r & Mr Latteny as Comis[sione]r is not right, none of them chuse as yet to make a motion for an Alteration. I hinted the Expediency thereof also to Mr Geo. Lisle & some others of the C[redito]rs, but find none of them inclined to move in it, or even second it; so they must go on in their own way. Mr Fawcet drew up a Case both with regard to the Extents & Mr Lowes's Assignment, wch Davidson sent to Aubone Wallis to take Mr Perrots opinion on, but he being retained for the King, Mr Evans's opinion was taken, wch seems to be in favour of the Extents ag[ain]st the Assignment, & of the Assignm[en]t ag[ain]st the Comis[sio]n of Bankruptcy; so th[a]t as the assignm[en]t will not now likely be given up, there is little to be expected for the rest of the Cr[edito]rs. the Case and Opinion are so long that I can't possibly send you a copy of it now, w[ha]tever I may do afterwards. The Kings Debt is £3200; the Amo[un]t of the sums mencond [mentioned] in the Assignm[en]t abo[u]t £10000 & there are other debts already proved to ab[ou]t £8000, & nobody can yet guess how much more is to come in: & as to Carricks effects we are altogether in the dark what they may amo[un]t to: for he has kept such books th[a]t no mortal can tell what to make of them, for there are no regular entries, or ballances struck with anybody for several y[ea]rs. He is in a very bad state of health & co[ul]d not attend the Com[issione]rs either at the first or 2nd meeting; but they went yesterday afternoon to his lodgings to take his surrender; they askd him some questions to wch they got unsatisfactory Answers. Only he told them he hoped in a few days to give them a just & particular acct. of his affairs if they would send an able hand or two to help him to put his books to right.   I am etc   JR

PS. I cannot get any money of Mr Beaumont, nor can he tell me when I shall; w[i]th wch pray acquaint Mr Thomas. His Colliery does not go on so well as co[ul]d be wishd, & I find he is indebted to Mr Carrick ab[ou]t £400. unless he has something to set ag[ain]st it wch I do not yet know of. Pray is there any likelyhood of Mr Wilson's soon compleating his purchase; for something must be done very soon about the houses.     JR





To Messrs Stainbank & Freeman Merchants in London

Newcastle 7 May 1756    £250.0.0

Forty days after date pay Mr Joseph Richmond or Order Two hundred and fifty pounds, the value in acct with Sr.Walter Blackett, place the same to acct as by advice from   Peareth & Sorsbie