Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 11 Jan 1756

To Sir W[alte]r Blackett Bt MP. London

11 Jan 1756

Hon Sir

I find by some of the Lead Owners at Stockton, who Mr Pere Tyzack, the Quaker's Agent, & I had a Conference with last week at Durham, That L[or]d Darlington was apprised before he left London of the Ministry's Intention of moving this Session for an add[itiona]l Duty on Lead exported. We drew up at the Meeting the heads of such Argum[en]ts as occurd to us ag[ain]st laying on such a Duty, wch are here inclosed; & those Gent[leme]n design imediately to apply to all the members they think they have any influence with to oppose it. The Agents for Greenwich hosp[ita]l I find do not think they ought to concern themselves in the Affair, tho if any Duty sho[ul]d be laid on, the hosp[ita]l must suffer in the value of their Duty Oar in proportion.

Mt James Scott tells me he has sent for Mr Forster about the Lucker Business & finds th[a]t Mr Robsons representation of the Affair is not well grounded. For Mr Forster tells him he has farmed Lucker tithes & free Lands of  yours before for about 40 years, & never injoyd any Eatage upon the Moor in right of the Farm. For the Liberty he had of pasturage in the moor was always in right of his own three Farms. He says the 10 stints you have in the Inpasture you still enjoy, but cannot be intitled to any share of the Moor in right thereof & that all the claim you can possibly have, in his opinion, is for the free Lands, wch contain ab[ou]t 4 or 5 Acres, for wch yo[u]r allotm[en]t cannot be 1/5 part of w[ha]t Mr Robson claims, for he thinks th[a]t in right of y[ou]r free Lands& the Stints wch he calls a farm, you ought to have ab[ou]t 50 Acres of the Moor set of.  But Mr Scott says this Matter shall be more strictly inquired & that Justice shall be done you. I have not seen Mr Robson since.

I have applyd to some of our Monied Gent[leme]n here; but they will not own with any Money that they have to lend at present.

Mr Hunter was here yesterday & says people are very uneasy for the Lead Mils Pay, wch I have been obliged to fix for the 5 Feb (29 January instant), in hopes of raising Money to comp[leat it ag[ain]st that time.  I am etc   JR