Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 1 Dec 1761

To Sir Wr Blackett Bt. M.P. to be left at the Cocoa tree Pall Mall London 

                                                                                                        Newcastle 1st December 1761

Hon[ou]rd Sir        I deferred writing anything more about Allanheads & Coalcleugh pays till I co[ul]d speak with certainty about them. I now find they can be made without your returning any money f[ro]m London; for Mr Harrison’s paybill. wch we have just got, does not come to so much as we Expected. He gives no further acco[un]t of high Coalcleugh than I mentioned, Except that he hopes to rise to the sill about Candlem[a]s & to be able then to judge fully of her.

Your subscribing £4000 to the present Loan to the Government will undoubtedly be advantageous, provided you can get the payments made without suffering in your stock of Lead as much as you will gain by the stocks. You know that the Interest & Annuities go so deep into your income that the Residue is not sufficient for your other occasions, & that there are no other means here of providing for the calls upon your Subscription than by Selling Lead. But the Likelyhood of a Spanish war has given so great a check to the demand for It, that there is little prospect of selling enough to make the Mills pay in March, & less of selling so much as to do both that & fulfil your Subscription. But we will neglect no opportunity of Transmuting as much Lead as will answer these purposes, if it can be done without reducing the price.

Inclosed is a copy of a Tack note, in 1748, wch is the latest we have here.

I shall try to get further Information about Sir Fran[ci]s Liddells wife.

It is rumoured that Sir Robt. Bewicke & Mr. Craister have bought the attornm[en]t of the Longbenton Tenants at so high a Rate as the forgiving them all their arrears & granting them a 21 years Lease at the old Rent!

Sir Edwd & Lady Blackett set out this morning for London: but do not propose being there before Thursday Senight.

So unusual a mortality will, I fear, give a great stock to Mr. Chr Blackett. I hope warmth & a little more time will clear you of all remains of the Gout.I am etc   HR