Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 5 Mar 1731

Walter Blackett Esqr.                                           Newcastle March 5th 1730

[Honour]d Sir

      Your Lre of the 25th post, favours me with the particulars of the Treaty you are upon with the Confiderates, I did hope that the proviso of quitting at ten years could not be got wou[l]d, a larger Rent, in this Conjuncture might have been obtained. The damage to your own Estate, will be very considerable, but the Stipulations on that account, If I understand them rightly, do think a full Equivalent, I heartly wish west Kenton may fall into your hands per any tollerable terms but doubt the Engagement of Alliance will prompt them to cary it farr beyond its realised worth, when all its Contingencies are justly valued, I have in severall  Lres to  Mr Allgood, which I hope he communicates to Sir Walter & Your self, given the best representations of the Land & Coll[ie]ry I was able, & also of the Intentions of the Alliance as farr as I could penetrate into them in which I may easily have been mistaken, but I am sure I am not & hope you believe, that they proceeded from a true Zeal for your Intrest, Iam sorry to tell you, Lead seems still to be upon the decline, it is sold at £14 our Fo[the]r at Stockton, Hull & in Wales, at all which places lay great quantities, I hope the price will advance with the Spring, & in Expectation thereof have forebore selling till the last weak when I sold 1000 p[iece]s at £14. 7s. 6d, I shall use my best Endeavours to keep up the price, but an apprehension from the great quantities at all Marketts, it will fall after the Spring Demand is supplied; When you treat with the Bishop there must be an abatement for the lot oar, for what is got in Weardale comes so dear that if the lead drop 20s a fother Lower, it will be your Intrest to throw in severall of the most chargeable of those groves.

      The Rents were never worse paid, another year will go hard with many of your tenants , if corn do not advance. I expect Mark Bowman here tomorrow, in order to proceed against the distroyers of the game as you direct, Inclosed is Mr Cuthbert Ogles acco[un]t as it stands to Mayday last, please to order Mr Allgood or whom else you think proper to Enquire into his paym[en]t allowances in order the settling thereof.  I am       JR