Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 2 Feb 1733

To Wr. Blackett Esqr.                                       Newcastle the 2nd Febry 1732/3

Hon[ou]rd Sir

About half the Company’s have already met on acco[un]t of your Lres, & the Reception they everywhere meet with leaves no Room to doubt of success, Mr Reay has been present in severall Companys when your Lres where read, & recommended you to them in  a very handsome manner, Mr Ald[erma]n Fenwick accompanied him, & declared at the same time for his <Broo.r> wch those that are more at your service  than Mr Fenwicks do not approve off, saying it looks like joyning. I have endeavoured to obviate the objection, by telling them if Mr Fenwick’s friends Bill take the advantage of doing so, you can’t avoid it, but that when you appear amongst them in Person, they will be convinced of the contrary most seemed satisfied therewith & say they’l suspend fixing any Resolution till that time, I am humbly of opinion, that whatever your Intentions may be in this Respect, it is much for your Intrest to avoid all appearance of joyning, for you will thereby reserve an Intrest among the Wigs that will secure your being first <returned>, I look upon it as certain that Mr Ridley will contest for the priority’s whether Mr Fenwick, or his Son stand, as he did at the last Elect[i]on, tho Mr Fenwick had many times declared he wou[l]d never dispute it with Sir Wm. and I think he will as certainly be disappointed, if the affair can but be rightly conducted on your part. You will observe that I make the Contest between you & Mr Fenwick for priority only for I think it is impossible for Mr Carr to be abated here, I have satisfied Mr Reay that giving Money to the Companys to drink may prove wrong, & wee find none of them expect any Entertainment till you come into the Country, I am etc       JR