Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 25 May 1756

To Sr.Wr Blackett Bt. MP. London

Newcastle 25 May 1756

Hon Sir

Frank set forwards this morning with 4 horses & I p[ai]d him four Guineas tow[ar]ds bearing his Expences.  

The Affidavit of yo[u]r Debt due f[ro]m Mr Carrick was very right, but tho the Assignm[en]t he made of his Effects to Mr Lowes is given up it looks as if there will be but a very small Dividend.

I have desired Mr Fenwick & Mr Robson to acquaint the Comiss[ione]rs w[i]th your inclinations that Mr Charltons unkle may be appointed Gatekeeper at Kenton & I hope he will be chosen, as I do not find any objection can be made to his Character; but here are two other candidates, who have the promises of most of the Com[missione]rs in the side of the Country.

I sold 2000 p[iece]s of lead last Thursday to Messrs Peareth & Sorsbie at £14.15.0, a Fod[de]r wch was done just in time; for fryday's post brought them Orders, not to buy any if they had not done it before. You have still 10000 p[iece]s at Market wch I doubt will lay heavy on hand as War is declared, & if it cannot be got sold soon no pays can be made th[i]s y[ea]r. Some of the L[ea]d Owners here & at Stockton as the demand at home is not likely to take off their stocks send lead to the Holland market on their own acct to be sold by Com[issio]n wch at pres[en]t wo[ul]d answer to about 14.15.0 a fod[de]r all Charges & insurance deducted. I desire to know whether you chuse to venture 1000 p[iece]s to that Market for a Tryal, & if so, th[a]t you will please to enquire & let me know some safe hand at Rotterdam to consign it to. This is a way of Trade I cannot recomend, tho old Sr.W.Blacket sent great q[uanti]tys of his lead to the Holland market in Queen Anns war, because he co[ul]d not get it disposed of otherwise.

We have now very dry weather, wch will get all the barley into the Gro[un]d, but the wind continues in the Easterly Qua[rte]r almost as cold as at Xmas. People here are very anxious for the fate of Minorca, as the loss of it must have very bad Consequences, but we hope it may hold out till Adm[ira]l Bing gets there, & that he is strong enough to relieve it.  PS. The Icehouse is quite empty, for we never had an opportunity of getting any snow into it. A Scotch Gent[lema]n is just gone thro this town, who says he left London Saturday afternoon, when there were great rejoicings for some good News rec[eiv]ed f[ro]m Adm[ira]l Bing, wch we hope to have confirmed by this post.   I am etc    JR.