Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 1 Sep 1758

To Sr. Wr. Blackett Bt M.P to be left at the Cocoa tree  Pall Mall London

1 Sept. 1758

Hon. Sir

	My son saw Mr Johnson at Hexham, who told him the four young men were returned the Evening before, having got information as suppos'd  th[a]t their design to go abroad was discovered : there were sev[era]l more its beleived had the same design, all papists, but who perswaded them thereto is not yet known, its suspected one of their priests was to have gone wth them under pretence of carrying them to some seminary for their Education, tho' they are all the Children of persons of low degree & 20 yrs of Age or near it. As the thing is well known at Hexham & everybodyd Eyes upon them, Mr Johnson thinks they will be content to stay at home & not make any more attempts to go abroad, but if they sho[ul]d notice will be imediately sent hither & a person privately dispatched that knows them all. Mr Peareth thinks the best way is not to stir any more in the matter at present, but in a fortnight or 3 weeks time to take up at once all the four that were here to keep them apart f[ro]m one another, to try if upon an Examination any discovery can be made. Mr Wade Mr Preston & Mr Cross lay here last nigfht & set forw[ar]d homewards this morning. I hope this will find you well  &  am etc    JR

PS  Mr Johnson says they sent the notice to Mr Mayor because they did not beleive you were at Newcastle.