Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 2 Jun 1733

To Wr. Blackett Esqr.                               Newcastle 2nd June 1733 



Hon[ou]rd Sr.

      I acquainted Sr. Edward with your offer of your house, & Stables dureing the Races, but your Lre came not to hand till Fryday in the Race Week, & then they were in Mr Fenwicks House & their Horses in your Stables. I am told his Ladys[hi]p has expressed her Resentm[en]t that the house was not offered them sooner, but Sr. Edward presented his service to your Lady & self, & seemed very well pleas’d when I told him you would have given orders sooner if you had known the Races fell so soon.

      I have wrote Baron Hylton that I will pay the £300 in a very little time for I can’t do it till I sell some Lead, which is now fallen from £14 to £13, wee are behind with the Intrest & tho Mr Joy has been for some time pressing about it, I cant yet raise the money to discharge it, for Lead is in no demand, & rents are not to be got in, few of your Tenants have paid any part of their Martinmas rent, which is the case with all or most of the Landlords in the Country, I do not know how to deal with the Tenants for the best, to seize breaks them up, & lowers the Lands, & to continue them when they seem so much behind hand is not much better, so beg your directions what to do therein. Mr Ogle is now about £800 in arrear, I have us’d all my best Endeavours with him to no purpose for he puts me of from week to week with pretences that he cant get the Rents of his Tenants. I desire you will please to Inclose me a Lre  to him which I hope will have some better affect.

      On Wednesday last was held a Merchants Court when your Lre  was read, & Mr Fenwick declared for himself, he & Mr Reay spoke to your Lre , but Mr Mayor was silent, only he said he woud never Vote for any Person that Voted for the late Intended Extension of the Excise Laws. The Company Voted Mr Fenwick their thanks for opposing it.

      On Wednesday next wee make a pay at the Leadmilns which amounts to about £2000, being a years pay & at Midsummer there will be about £3500 due to Allenheads, & Coalcleugh. I was up at those groves this week, & find as I acquainted you before that they will not raise as much Oar this year as the last, by 800 or 1000 bings, Moohope continues good, & I doubt not but will help out the other Defiencyes.

      The Hunters are all at grass, & as they will want Physick, should be taken up 5 or 6 weeks before you use them, shall wait your directions when to take them up, I am

            Hon[ou]rd Sr. yours etc  JR