Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 18 May 1756

To Sr.Wr. Blackett Bt. MP. in London

Newcastle 18 May 1756

Hon Sir

I cannot find that anybody here has an inclination to buy Kenton Estate you will therefore please to consider whether you will advertise it to be sold; if not, some End should be made with the tenants whose Articles expire at Mayday next, As a war with France seems now unavoidable I wish you could get this Estate sold; for as the intrest of Money will most likely advance, the value of Lands must consequently fall. If you order Mr Denton to put an advertisement into the London papers I shall put the same into our papers here. The profit of your leadmines last y[ea]r was only £4500 but the savings last y[ea]r was £3100; now mostly in the stock of lead in hand: wch saving was occasioned by yo[u]r paying Messrs Lascelles's intr[es]t out of the sale of Calverley.  I have sold today 2000 p[iece]s of comon lead at £14.12.6 & 800 p[iece]s of the ref[ine]d sort at £14.17.6 a fod[de]r wch is something better than £15.10.0 at Stockton, at wch price L[or]d Darlington's Agent tells me he has lately sold 6000 p[iece]s. But I am told the real price he sold at was only 15.7.6, there being to be an abatem[en]t of 2s6d a Fod[de]r.  I find the stop th[a]t the Com[missione]rs of the Customs had put to the Exportation of Lead is taken off. but still I doubt the price will fall considerably lower. & all the stock you have in hand has cost you £12 a Fod[de]r.   I rec[eiv]ed a Lre last post f[ro]m Mr Lockman he says by yo[u]r directions, desiring me to give all the despatch & assistance I can to any of the Masters of the Societies bushes that may touch at this port; wch I will take care to do. But I desire you directions, whether I am to pay the Officers of the Customs their fees; or enter into any security for the Ma[ste]rs performance agreable to the Act, if the same shall happen to be required. If any of the Bushes put in here, it will probably be in ten days time.   I have pleasure to acquaint you that the Slitt Grove in Weardale, wch has cost you a great deal of money is likely to prove very good; for Mr Peart writes he has let ten oar bargains at her, the highest at 25s & the lowest at 12s a bing.  PS. I have inclosed an advertisem[en]t for Kenton, wch you will please to alter as you think proper.  I am etc    JR