Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 2 Dec 1757

To Sir Wr. Blackett Bt. MP. at his House in St James's Street London

Newcastle 2 Dec 1757

Hon. Sir

	Mr Scott & I got back from Hexham last night. A great many Witnesses have been examined on both sides, & if yo[u]r witnesses have proved before the Arbitrators what they s[ai]d to us on their Examination the Copyhold[ers] within the Manor of Hexham have had an uninterrupted enjoym[en]t of all the gro[un]d in dispute for time immemorial, But on the other side I find by Mr Collingwoood that two or three of Mr Ord's Witnesses have swore to sev[era]l interruptions given by the Whitfield tenants, wch were never known nor heard of by any other person living. Mr Ord has had one Lothian an Attorney all the last summer looking out for & preparing of Witnesses to say things to prove a property wch there is great reason to say cannot be true, for they have sworn to impounding of Goods, burning peats &c wch were never done according to the Evidence of all yo[u]r Witnesses. Mr Ord attended the whole time with his two Attorneys Mr Stewart & Mr Lothian & went himself to shew the refferees the ground in dispute where he has caused some Bounder Marks to be lately erected. Mr Scott seems much dissatisfied with the whole proceeding & says Mr Fawcet has acted as a Council more than an Arbitrator. But he will write you his sentiments by this post. he wo[ul]d have all the Examinations he has taken sent you up, wch are very bulky, but I do not see you can make any great judgem[en]t without the plan wch cannot be sent up free by the post. However I will send them by the return of the post if you please to have them. This affair is of great Consequence both to you with regard to the Royalty & the Copyhold[ers] with regard to the Eatage who will have little or no common right left, if the whole sho[ul]d be awarded to Mr Ord, wch I hope Mr Collingwood will never come into, but rather let the time elapse & the matter remain as it is. but if they co[ul]d agree to divide the Ground in a reasonable manner it may be better than going to Law ab[ou]t it. I wish it was convenient for you to come down at Xmas; for I own I am not a little affraid of the consequence of this reference, tho I am very certain that notwithstanding all that some of Mr Ord's Witnesses have sworn who are persons of very indifferent Characters, that he ought to have awarded Him a very small part of the gro[un]d in dispute, even allowing all they have sworn to be true. I do not say th[a]t Mr Ord was present when the referees examined the witnesses, only th[a]t he was at hexham all the time.

	I do not find that Lady Blackett is yet certainly resolved when she will set forward.

	PS The wine f[ro]m Curzon house is arrived & sent to Wallington.

	If you sho[ul]d have no thoughts of coming down at Xmas you will please to consider whether it is right to desire Mr Collingw[oo]d to let Mr Scot & me have a little conversation with him before he agree to any Award. I doubt not but he will write you his thoughts in a few posts.  I am etc   JR