Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 29 Jun 1756

To Sir W[alte]r Blackett Bt. MP. London

29 June 1756

Hon Sir

Mr Peart is now here & tells me that at his Bro[the]r Jacob's request he has recomended him to you to succeed Thos.Armstrong at Coalcleugh & that Mr Caleb Hunter has joined in the recomendation; wch I am surprised at for I am satisfied he wants conduct to be put in any place of trust. Old R[ober]t Armstrong I find has no desire to return to Coalcleugh; but he writes me th[a]t he intends to sollicit yo[u]r favour for a son of his whose name is John, who I do not know, & will propose to give £200 security for his performance, & to pay up whatever his son Thos. shall appear to be in Arrear, wch I am affraid will be no less than it was last year. I have enquired of Mr Peart ab[ou]t this younf man, & he gives him a pretty good Character & says he is the soberest of the family.

	Mr Wastal tells me he has recomended to you young Rt.Armstrong who he says is much reformed; but I presume you remember him pretty well; he is a Miner good enough; but used to be very irregular when in Mr Bacons service.

	Mr Rich.Harrison, who by mistake I called John Harrison in my last Lre, is now here & I find offers you his service ; I never saw him before, not know anything of him but by report; but Mr Peart says he looks upon him as the fittest p[er]son for your purpose. When you come into the Country you will have an opportunity of inform[in]g yourself as to the Characters of the sev[era]l Candidates: & in the meantime Coalcleugh will be carried on by old Rt.Armstrong & his son George who is under steward there; who by all acco[un]ts is a very worthless p[er]son. 

	I am very sorry to hear youare indisposed, but hope this will find you better.  I am etc   JR