Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 10 Feb 1761

To Sir Wr. Blackett Bt. M.P. at his ho[use] in Charles Street near St. James’s Square London                              

                                                                                                                   Newcastle 10 Feb. 1761

Hon. Sir     L[or]d Darlington called last week, & told me he had heard that an application had been made to the Customary tenants in Weardale to vote for Sir Thomas Clavering at the General Election. I mentioned that it was scarce possible for any overtures of that kind to be made without Mr Maughans hearing of them directly, & that he had your directions to send me word as soon as he got any intelligence of such a proceeding. But his L[or]ds[hi]p being desirous of knowing before the meeting at Durham, wch was yesterday whe[the]r there was any foundation for the report, I sent to Mr Maughan, & on the otherside is a copy of his answer of wch I also sent his Lords[hi]p a copy.

Thos. Rippon of Stanhope is a single vote for Sir Thos. & Cuthbert Bainbridge of the same place I doubt will be so too. The first is an agent & the other a tenant of L[or]d Carlisle’s. Bainbridge is employed you as a Carrier, & inclined to give you the disposal of his 2d vote at least; but the fear of losing his farm, wch Rippon threatens shall be taken f[ro]m him, will probably confine him to Sir Thos. I cannot learn whe[the]r Lady Carlisle, or the Trustees, (of whom L[or]d Chief Baron Ord is one) are properest to be apply’d to for his L[or]ds[hi]ps int[e]r[es]t.

Mr Davison of Beamish desired I wo[ul]d acquaint you that Miss Conyers’s tenant, who by her direction voted for Mr Shafto, has now got a Bias in favour of Sir Thos. Mr Steph[e]n Watson of No[rth] Seaton has the Guidance of the two Mr Hares of E Slitburn & Mr Potts of Newbegin. If you sho[ul]d think proper to apply to him for their 2d votes, he is now with his Co[mpany] at Berwick. Mr Ord of Fenham has a vote & I believe has never been applyd to, further than by a Letter f[ro] Mr Shafto; who, when he was here, had not time to wait upon him he is for Sir Thos. but I sho[ul]d hope will scarce give a single vote if you think it proper to ask one of him.   I am etc   HR