Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 27 Dec 1755

To Sr Wr Blackett Bt London

27 Dec 1755

Hon. Sir

	I am extreamly sorry to find there sho[ul]d be any intention of laying a further duty on Lead exported; wch wo[ul]d be a heavy Load & discouragement to all Lead mine adventurers in general, & not ans[we]r the ends th[a]t may be proposed by the Government, for sev[era]l reasons th[a]t may be set forth if occasion require. I have mentioned to the Agents for Greenwich hosp[ita]l & the Quakers Co. that I had rec[eiv]ed intimation f[ro]m a Friend of such a thing being talkd on, & they write by this post to their respective principals, for their directions how to proceed, if its apprehended there will be occasion. & if so, we intend to meet the Lead owners at Stockton next week to consider of the most effectual measures to oppose such a bill. If any further duty sho[ul]d be imposd it ought certainly to extend to Scotland, otherwise it wo[ul]d be throwing the whole trade into th[a]t part of the kingdom, wch has already to much advantage, by being free of the pres[en]t duty of £20 a ton by the Act of Union, but what reason can be alledged for their being exempt f[ro]m any additional duty I cannot apprehend. the laying on any further duty on Lead exported must be impolitic in the Governm[en]t, as it wo[ul]d be turning the ballance of trade more ag[ain]st us both with France & other Kingdoms & put them upon searching for that Comodity in their own Territories as we did for Iron in the Plantations, when the Swedes laid a higher duty on the Exportation of th[a]t Article; wch they have reason to repeat. To say th[a]t the price of Lead has been so high of late, that the proprietors may well bear an Add[itiona]l duty, because the duty of £20 was p[ai]d 50 y[ea]rs ago when Lead was at half the prices is saying nothing; for most of the Lead mines in England are now wro[ugh]t at treble the Expence they were then, occasiond by chargeable Levels, Engines &c, wch there was little occasion for when the Oar was got nearer the surface, & therefore the laying on any add[itiona]l Duty will necessarily occasion most of the Lead Mines in the No[rth] of England to be laid in & turn many thousands of poor people adrift, who know not in w[ha]t other way to get their bread. I know of no Species of Goods th[a]t pay more than 12d in the po[un]d value on Exportation & why it sho[ul]d ever enter into the heads of the Ministry to think of loading this Article w[i]th a higher duty is inconceivable they may imagine it will raise the Government £40000 a y[ea]r, but by the reduction it will occasion in the demand from abroad, I dare venture to say they will find themselves greatly mistaken. Lastly, If this duty sho[ul]d be carried it ought not to comence in a short time or not be laid on stocks now in hand. The above is w[ha]t occurs to me at pres[en]t , but no doubt many more & stronger reasons may be tho[ugh]t of when the matter comes to be thoroughly considerd. 

	As to Stubblock Coll[ier]y there can nothing be proposed but a reference; wch I imagine they will never agree to. thewrefore if you cannot procure an Injunction to stop their working I do not see w[ha]t can be done. I sent you the whole state of the affair in my Lre of 24 Jan last. I heartily wish you many happy y[ea]rs & am etc.  

PS Lady B[lacket]t is here & not yet determined when she will set forwards, I will send yo[u]r suit of cloths by the waggon next week. Mr Airy says Hyde & Lawson will certainly pay the bill when due, & desires it may not be returned nor protested, for care shall be taken of its being p[ai]d very soon if they sho[ul]d not do it; but if they do not, please to give Mr Denton to do as he thinks is right.  I am etc  JR