Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 8 Apr 1759

To Sir Wr Blackett Bt, M:P:, at his house	in Brook Street  Grosvenor Square  London

	Newcastle the 8th April 1759

Hon[ou]r[e]d Sir	

I have rece[ive]d by this day’s post the 25 bank postbills for Two hundred pounds each amounting to Five thousand pounds, wch I have made myself Deb[to]r for & shall now fix Weardale & Dukesfield pays to be made the beginning of next Month, wch will amount to about £13000,  I have talked with the Grove Stewards ab[ou]t laying aside all the dead Charges, except at Coalcleugh (wch must go forwards) & working the Groves for the present on the easiest terms taking care that nothing go to ruin – I have sold 1800 p[ieces] Lead at £12 10s 0d Pr f[o]d[der] to be p[ai]d for at Mids[umme]r, wch is above the Stockton price, where they have such large q[uanti]ties on hand that many of the dealers must sell at any price that offers.  Their fother is a cwt more than Ours – At the Meeting on Thursday abo[u]t the Militia Mr Blackett offer’d to serve as Capt[ai]n Mr Mosley as Lieut[enan]t & young Mr Stephenson on the Bridge as Ensign, but I do not find anything was done either for No[rthumber]land or Durham – Mr Bell of Swalwel bro[ugh]t his fate upon himself – for having had frequent quarrels with one Moffet a Barber, he prevaild on Mr Green a Midshipman belonging to the Tender to go & impress him, they found him at his Lodgings, & as they were carrying him away he wrested Mr Greens Sword out of his hand & killed Mr Bell upon the spot, wounded Mr Green in sev[era]l places & made his escape - - I will acquaint Mr Jno Hare with w[ha]t you write ab[ou]t his son, who will never settle to any business by the acco[un]t I have of him, therefore he is likely to be a continual trouble to his father, unless an Ensign’s Comission co[ul]d be purchased for him in a Standing Regim[en]t.  I am told Mr Ridley has wrote Mr Walter Scott, that he has the promise of such a Comission for 400 <g[uineas]>  for his Son, who is just such another Youth    I am etc    JR