Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 16 Apr 1756

To Sir Wr.Blackett Bt.MP. London

Newcastle 16 April 1756

Hon Sir

	I wrote Mr Denton last post & desird him to acquaint you th[a]t Mr R.Carrick had stopd paym[en]t, & th[a]t he stands indebted to you £211.15.6 for 200 p[iece]s Lead; wch I am very sorry for. He p[ai]d me £319 the 12th of last month the ball[an]ce of his acct. So th[a]t I had no reason to refuse him the 200 p[iece]s . he has taken in almost the whole town, & his debts are computed to amo[un]t to full £20000. But Mr Lowes says he has effects to pay everybody 20s in the po[un]d, wch nobody beleives. The Quakers Co. want of him £1090. Mr Ra. Carr £800, L[or]d Darlington £300, Hall & Emerson £350 for lead & here are in town 40 people more that want f[ro]m £100 to £500 so th[a]t never such an affair has happened here in the memory of any man; among the rest the Sherif is taken in for £300 wch is very hard upon him. Mr Davison who married Mr Lowes's sister sent an Express last tuesday for a Comis[sio]n of Bankrupcy in the name of Cap[tai]n Rob. Hudson who is a Cred[ito]r for £100 & has named Nr Grey, Mr Fawcet, Mr Widdrington, Mr Lowes & Mr Latteny to be Comissioners w[i]th  some of wch the Cred[ito]rs are not satisfied, & will use their best endeavours they shall not act & that Mr Davison shall not be Sollicitor; but however that may be I doubt not but we shall get proper persons chosen for Assignees. 

	Capt[ai]n Smith is at Durham & will be here in a day or two. I hear Mr Peart has engaged some Miners; but he has not yet sent me the number. I expect he will bring down what he has engaged some day next week & then if its necessary I will go into Weardale, & try what more can be done.  I am etc    JR