Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 27 Feb 1759

To Sir W[alter] Blackett Bt MP London					27 Febry 1759

Honrd Sir

I am sorry any objection sho[ul]d now be raised to the title of Kenton estate by Mr Filmer, who has had all the title deeds before him in 1746.  When the mortgage was transfer’d to Mr Lascelles – I cannot give any light into the matter unless something may be overlook’d that is mentioned in the inclosed paper As to the Cotterells who were made tenants of the freehold, there is neither of them nor any of their posterity now living here, or that I can get any acco[un]t of.  There can be no doubt but the title of Kenton estate is sufficient, & I hope when Mr Filmer reconsiders it the objection will be remov’d, but if not I know no other way than to try if Messrs Lascelles can advance you the Money upon Walling[ton] for as to raising any money upon the Lead at Bladon I am sure it is impracticable here, & no Merch[an]t in London will do it, but upon most unreasonable terms, besides your being debarr’d the liberty of selling it when a Markett may offer – I have no bills but some of Messrs Peareth & Sorsbie’s, that have two months to go, wch I have engaged to Mr Brown & Mr Hutchinson, who are to let me have money for them the latter end of March to enable me to pay Weardale Mines for a y[ea]r due last Mids[ummer]; wn there is £8000 due & £2000 more due at Xmas last, The Stewards & some of the people were here last week, & to make them easy I told them I was satisfied their pay wo[ul]d be the beginning of April for the y[ea]r due Mids[ummer]; they want it to be made to Xmas, But that is impossible for me to do without yo[ur] assistance of £2000 & if I return you any Money I shall not be able to pay them to Mids[ummer]; but shall endeavour to get bills at a short date & send you for what sum you please to order me – 

Cuth[bert] Midford <or Medford>  one of the Electors is dead, I think Mr Blackett is the most proper person to be chosen in his stead  I am &c    JR

PS The parishes have all refused to name any Comissioners for the Lamp bill & sev[eral] of the Magistrates will not agree to the Corporation’s making good any defficiency in the Tax    I am sorry that things should have ever been meddled with unless it had been better managed.

I am just now informed that Cha[rles] Cotterall was never married, but his brother was an Attorney in Furnivals Inn & was married.  But I can get no acco[unt] whether he left any Children