Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 23 May 1758

To Sir Wr. Blackett Bt. MP. at his ho[use] in St James's Street London

Newcastle 23 May 1758

Hon. Sir

	I wish you Joy of getting into possession of Kirkheaton estate & hope you will long retain it. All the tenants you sent bonds for have attorned and herewith inclosed is a Lre signed by five more that they will also attorn as soon as Bonds are sent down. there is one John Brown that is quite obstinate, & the reason I beleive is that he is more in arrears than he will ever be able to pay but if a bond is also sent down for him, he may perhaps be prevailed on to attorn. Ann Atkinson is only a Cottager at £10 a y[ea[r so th[a]t a bond in £100 penalty will be suff[icien]t for her . - Math. Atkinson does not need a bond, for his sons have all the farm & their attornment is suff[icien]t, so that there need only six bonds be sent down; five for those th[a]t have signed the Lre & one for Jno. Brown & I desire you will please to ord[e]r the lre to be returned.

	I have rec[eiv]ed yo[u]r bond to Mr Fenwick, but as I apprehended Mr Douglas has raised an Objection ab[ou]t securing Mr Wards Ann[ui]ty, wch you have nothing at all to do with. but I expect we shall get it removd in a few days.

	Lead is fallen £20 a fod[de]r at all marketts & is likely to fall still lower, as there are large Q[uanti]tys at all Marketts, wch are dayly increasing & no demand so th[a]t there is no probability of getting the lead mines p[ai]d th[i]s year.

	Dr Lambert returns his acknowledgement of yo[u]r favour & desires me to assure you he will do everything in his power to merit the Obligation.

	Cowel is entred to Ryal.

PS  The tenants th[a]t have attorned have delivered up their receipts for the rent p[ai]d Ld. Windsor. The tenants say th[a]t when Mr Berwick was with them he told them they need not attorn to anybody, but if they did he had rather it sho[ul]d be to you than any other. 

I am etc  JR.