Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 4 Feb 1755

To Sr W.Blackett Bt. in London

Newc[astle] 4th Feb 1755

Hon Sir

	Mr Jno.Gibson id dead & yesterday Mr Peart was here & shewd me a recommendatory Lre signd by sev[era]l p[er]sons in behalf of one Jno.Peart a Relation of his & Son in Law to Jno.Gibson, to whom he has been assistant during his Illness; wch Lre you will receive by this post. Mr Peart says the young man is a good Grover, & the properest p[er]son you can fix on to put in Thos.Maughans place, who he wo[ul]d have preferd to Jno.Gibsons. I do think it wo[ul]d be very right to advance Maughan, & as to the young man recommended to his place, I believe he may do as well as any other. I know nothing of him myself but he appears to be very modest & sober, writes a good hand, is about 28 y[ears of age, & Mr Peart says has an Estate in Weardale of abo[ut] £40 a y[ea]r, wch I do not think any bad Qualification. As I saw Mr Hunter of Allanheads had joind in the recomendacon I askd Mr Peart why Mr Rd.Allgood had not also signd it, he said he declined it: In wch he apprehends he designs to apply for his son; who Mr Peart says wo[ul]d be of no service as he is a Stranger to both the Groves & people in Weardale. He also says th[a]t the Person he recomends to Maughans place, expects no more than £20 a y[ea]r wxh is £5 less than you now pay. As the time for sending the Oar to the Mils is coming on an assistant sho[ul]d be appointed before Ladyday in Weardale; but as to Allanheads, they may dispence longer without one; if your Agents there keep their health, but if either of them sho[ul]d be taken ill, your Affairs wo[ul]d probably suffer. I think it wo[ul]d therefore be right to determine, who you will also please to place there. You will remember the p[er]sons who applied to you for the vacancy are Chris.Vickers recomended by Mr Aynsley, who Mr Hunter & Mr Allgood said was of a hasty temper; Joshua Dodds, who I believe is some way allied to Mr Hunter & Rd.Allgood for his son; any of the 3 you shall please appoint will in my opinion do very well while Mr Hunter lives.

	The Apprehensions of a Rupture with France puts a full stop to the Lead Trade; & if matters are not made up, that Comodity must drop very considerably; you have abo[ut] 8000 p[ieces] at Bladon, mostly come in since the middle of Octo[ber], since wch time we have had no demand.

	Mr Robson is pretty well recoverd & intends to go to Wallington in 2 or 3 days, he says Thos.Hepple & sons have taken the farm & signed an Article for one y[ea]r at £100. The younger son who is one of the Lives in the B[isho]ps Lease on some Difference has left his Father & its said intends to go to sea.

	I had some talk today with Mr Walton about Stublock & he says as you did not proceed & bring the Matter  to a Tryal when servd with the Injunction they have Orders to work the Coll[ie]ry;  & if you bring an Injunction to stop them, the hospital will try the Right with you.

	I think the Boundaries of Hexham ought to rode this Year.

	Liddle's Affair is the chief subject in all Companies; & most people apprehend th[a]t tho the Hoppers may be laid aside, yet something or other will fall heavy on the Corporation. But I hope it will prove otherwise.

	Our Butchers say the Bear is as fat as it's possible to make it.

	I will send the White Bear Skin by the first ship that sails.

I am Hon Sr Yr most faithful h[um]ble Servt.  JR

PS I have shipd the Bear Skin in the Blackett Cap[tai]n.Suggit



1751 May 2  Borrowd of Mr Bowes at 4 P[er]C[en]t                  1500

1752 Jan 29 more                                                  1200

                                                                  2700



1753 June 2 Pd Mr Leaton 2yrs intst on the 1500 due 13 May 1753    120

Ditto       pd do        1yr  do     on the 1200 due 9 feb 1753     48

                                                                   168

By 11 days Alteracon in the Style makes the times of interest becomes due, to be as above.