Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 22 Feb 1757

To Sr.Wr. Blackett Bt. MP. at his house in Curzon Street London

22 Feb 1757

Hon Sir

	The Cart with broad wheels wch you ordered to be made by Mr Chas. Steward, he says cannot be finished in less than ten days; when it is done shall make the experim[en]t you direct & acquaint you with our observations upon it. But f[ro]m all the informations I can gather f[ro]m the most judicious persons in the matter, broad wheels 4 inches or 41/2 inches will be no further hards[hi]p on persons leading Coals in Carts with one horse, than the difference in the price of the wheels, & if they are allowed a reasonable time to wear out their narrow ones, they will have no reason to comp[lain; for as the Friction of broad & narrow surfaces are the same where the weight & pressure is equal, & as broad wheels of 4 inches & 41/2 may be made very near as light as narrow ones, as they will be shod very thin & with rather a less weight of Iron the inconvenience in th[a]t respect will be next to nothing to the owners, unless it may be in very soft roads where the wheels go very deepd. But the advantage to the Streets & roads about this Town wo[ul]d be very great; wch are broke & tore up w[i]th narrow wheels as to be scarce passable. As to Carts with two horses, the wheels sho[ul]d be six inch[e]s at least. Mr Stewart says he has made sev[era]l of them, which answer extreamly well on hard roads or soft, without any manner of inconvenience ever yet complained of.

	I will take care to remit Mr Denton £1000 to be ready in April & hope to be able if you have occasion to spare £500 more; but as the Grove Pays are to be made at Mids[umme]r, I cannot guess to £2000 w[ha]t the amo[un]t will be till the accts come in. I apprehend you do not expect me to remit any money to Mr Strother. I shall pay the Lead Mils to Xmas on thursday senight, wch accts come to near £3000.  I am etc     JR

PS Mr Widdrington & my son John have agreed today to enter into p[ar]tnership f[ro]m the 1st of next Month for 10 y[ea]rs if they live so long, & the profits of the Business to be equally divided except setling Comiss[ion]s in Chancery