Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 3 Dec 1732

To Mr Blackett Esq. 				Newcastle Decemr 3rd 1732

Honrd Sr, 

      I have before me yours of the 25th ult. & in my last gave you any thoughts upon the petition signed by the workmen at Moohope, to wch I have only now to add, that I take the petition to be sign'd only by a few that livi[n]g near the place, who are influenced by Mr Robson & Mr Toppin, for whose ease & Intrest the thing is calculated, Ninebanks Chapple is not much more than two miles from the Parish Church, is only a Chapple of ease built by Edens Family not consecrated, & will therefore only save the Subscribers the trouble of walking every Sunday to the Parish Church, wch it is not reasonable the greater part of your Workmen at Moohope should pay towards, who will have no benefit by it, as living in other Parishes, & so he will therefore most certainly petition against it, if you Order them to pay towards it, I remain still of the same oppinion that it will be better to before granting or rejecting it till you return into the Country all these Deductions are a burthen upon your works wch ultimately must be paid by you, Allenheads & Coalcleugh are subject to pay Shifts for very good Reasons, not one of wch will hold in the present Case.

      Mr Fenwick its reported declares he will stand again, but will spend no money, if so, it must be your money that will bring him in, Mr Ridley says that in all Compys his Son shall stand if Mr Fenwick decline it, but not otherwise, I cant find the Report of Mr Carrs Intending to treat publicly has any foundation, if it should be true, I am of the opinion that your giving Orders to treat the Compys without being present your self, will no way answer the Intention, when it becomes necessary to treat, wch I see yet no necessity for, I am humbly of opinion your presence will be absolutely necessary, in the mean time a Lre to the Mayr each Ald[erma]n to the Common Council, & to the Stew[ar]d of each Compy signifying your Intentions of desiring their Votes & Intrest, & that the Steward will communicate your Resolutions to their Compys cant but be very proper in order to present pre[-]engagements all here rejoice at the advantage you & your Lady have found by the Matters, none more so than Sr. Yrs etc  J.R.