Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 25 Mar 1757

To Sir W[alte]r Blackett Bt. MP. at his house in Curzon Street London

25 March 1757

Hon. Sir

	Mr Ellison cannot find anything at Ravensworth th[a]t gives any manner of Light with regard to Mrs Gunter's claim further than th[a]t old Mr Fenwick of Stannerton, Mrs Gunters Grandfather married a Daughter of Sir Fra. Liddel; but how Sir Francis was any way related to Sr.Richd.Stole does not appear. 

	Mr Ellis says the Kirkheaton tenants answer to Anickgrange court & do suit & service there; but no rent has ever been paid, nor does any such thing appear in the old fee farm rent book. The conveyance from Sir John Fenwick to Cuthbert Heron I presume is now in L[or]d Windsors hand & the counterpart may probably be in L[or]d Carlisle's possession but its strange Sr.W[illia]m Blackett should never have it.

	The Cart made by Mr Stewart is too large & heavy for a single horse, we made a tryal but it was not satisfactory; the loading was that of a single horse cart, & the horse drew it well enough on plain ground, but it co[ul]d not be expected to do so uphill as it is abo[u]t 2 hund[re]dw[eigh]t heavier than a single horse Cart. A Cart properly made for one horse with 6 inch wheels may probably answer very well, but for want of such a thing we cannot make any certain experim[en]t.

PS : It is very agreable to almost everybody that Mr Pitt keeps his footing, as it is hoped he will conduct the helm better than it has been done of late.  I am etc   JR