Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 6 Apr 1755

To Sr WrBlackett Bart. London

6 April 1755

Honrd Sir

	Mr Davison of Ferryhill is still living, but Dr Askew thinks he cannot continue long. I will send you the earliest advice I receive of any alteration.

	The Hoppers go on as briskly as ever, & wee are told two addit[iona]l ones are expected named the Defiance & Revenge which is extreamly insolent, but I hope the Corporation will very speedily take measures to induce the Ma[ste]rs of These to consider better of it.

	The Subscription going on for the Relief of the Families of Volunteer Seamen is lookd upon by some Gentlemen as very imprudent as it may hereafter lay the Government under some inconveniencies, by obligeing to give addit[iona]l Bounties, but our Zeal at present is so great that there is no restraining it, about £180 is already subscribed, Mr Ridley has subscribed five guineas, & tomorrow I shall agreeable to your Directions subscribe your £50 wch will make the whole subscription to that time £230. Mr Bell, Mr Reay, Mr Carr & Mr Jos.Ord are appointed to be a Comittee for the disposal of the money, & the Bounty is to extend to the families of all Volunteers that have entred or shall enter with Capt[ai]n Wheeler regulating Capt[ain]s here, but no more than one single paym[en]t is intended to be collected.

	The horses are here ready for a journey & on fryday next Jno.Ogle will set forw[ar]d with 11 saddle horses & 3 coach horses & will be in London about the 19th.   

	I am not able yet to draw an exact State of y[ou]r Affairs to Xmas for I cannot have all the Stew[ar]ds accts till about Mayd[a]y, but I will do it as soon as I possibly can. I will take care to observe all the other directions of y[ou]r Lre. 

PS Mr Sorsbie's C[reditor]s have mostly agreed to take what effects there are among them, how they will turn out I cannot yet tell. As he has done with Trade, I think yo[ur] orders for Corn to the Mines had better be divided, Viz  Messrs Clark & Scurfield to have Weardale & Mr Harbottle to have Allanheads. The other Corn Merch[an]ts are Mr Surtees Mr Harry Peareth & Mr Bt.Greenwell. I desire you will please to let me have yo[u]r directions herein. I am etc  JR