Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 16 Jan 1733

To Walter Blackett Esq.                             Newcastle the 16th January 1732



Hon[ou]rd Sir

Yesterday being a Guild & Common Councell Day, till which the reading of your Lre  was put off, it was again assured to Mr May[o]r, but he had taken proper measures that there should not be a sufficient number present to hold a Common Councell, so that your Lre  was again postponed to the Disapoinment of half the Town, who expected it to be read ; What Gloss may be put upon this, I don’t know; but I am so afraid, it is a fresh Instance of what Usage yo are on every occasion to expect from Mr May[o]r; but very happily it’s not in his power to hazard your Elec[ti]on, for such Behaviour will serve rather to strengthen your Intrest than Lessen it: Mr Clarke says Mr May[o]r ( wanting some pretence to be Angry ) says he has been ill used; for that your Lre  had been shewn to severall Gentleman in Town & Country, as he reflected on for not having it before which is true only so farr, that Mr Cuthb[er]t Fenwick took a Copy of it when first presented, which he has shown to severall, he complains also that he has been ill used by me, who refused to let him have £400 worth of Lead, which was previously engaged to another person, I never gave him Reason to say he was ill used, he has never had the best usage of any Merch[an]t whatsoever, but it is Impossible to please him; he would buy all your Lead, & say he was ill us[e]d as often as I asked him for payment, he has at present & has had for above 3 years £600 in his hand of which I can get no part, & is not pleased that I excuse my self from going any greater Lengths; I can’t think its your interest to endeavour humouring him on such Term’s, I am sure it is not my Duty, till I have your orders here for I am to do it. That all this is only to serve a Twin for the true reason of all this ill humour is, he always declared his Son should not stand if Mr Fenwick did, which he concluded he would never do, but finding Mr Fenwick is not yet to be brought of it, but resolved to declare when you did, he is enraged at the Disapoin[t]m[en]t, & therefore wants more time to use his Efforts to bring him to desist, which may probably be the Result of the matter at last, & if so, he is unwilling you should be before hand with him in his application. The present Question is whether the Comp[an]ys Lres ought now to be  d[elivere]d , or that all remain quiet till you come into the Country, if they are delivered it may disoblige Mr Mayor & some of his Brethern who will see only with his Eyes, if they are not delivered it may give offence to some of the  freeMen who may think themselves slighted by you, if there is any likelihood they  will be the last Sessions, I think the  Comp[an]ys Lres ought to be delivered, if there is none then it may be as advisable to forbear, but I refer to Mr Clarks Lre  by this Post for your forming a better Judg[e]m[en]t herein; I wait your Directions, & tho  I err in judgem[en]t, I hope you will allways believe, I am with true Zeal Yrs     etc                                                                       J Richmond



P.S.  Mr Wilkinson desires to know whether you have any object[i]on to his & Mr Davisons assigning over Mrs Ann Lilburns Legacy to Mr Allgood & Mr Clarke for your use, which I mention only at his request, for I think there can be no objection to it, it is a charge on West Kenton Estate; & can’t be rece[ieve]d by the present Trustees without the Consent of Mr Wilkinson & Mr Davison the Trustees under the will of Sir Wm. Blackett your Grandfather