[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter I

February, 1759.

Dear Sir,

"Far was it from my sister's intentions to claim acknowledgements by what she jocularly put imto your basket; It might have chanced to have been as many eggs — instead of the apples: which would have been rather more valuable, if they are as dear at Douglass at this time of year as, she says, they are at London, viz., 4 for a groat. — But in my opinion the apples were the choicer of the two, being such as are properly non-pareils (1), that had been crocked up from the air to preserve their Taste and Colour. But their Superiority or Excellence perhaps escaped notice, and estimation, as the Geraniums had of a long time, till Mrs Black brought 'em into vogue. — Yes, Sir, I can, or, when the summer comes on, shall be able to spare you two dozen instead of two, if you deserved them, which I think you hardly do for having overlooked 'em the summers and winters wherein I have neyer failed to exhibit them to your approbation, and every body's else that visited Bishop's Court, and never could obtain almost the cast of an eye towards them, till Mrs Black came with her elegant discernment, to desire some of the Breed. — So soon as any more are fit to ship I shall send her a fresh supply with permission to furnish you or any of her neighbours who, on strict examination she shall be able to testify, are real admirers, and will promise to take due care of 'em and import to none but has take as much as a fancy to them When you can produce certi ficate of being in that number vou will be entitled to have them at first hand, and in the mean time I refer you to Mrs Black, who I dare say will serve you with them as gener ously and genteely as your Friend and Bro

"M. S. M."

P.S.—You have now or have lately had a dangerous man in your town, if I may judge by his behaviour at Bishopscourt; where in the abundance of his zeal for the true bred, black art of chimney sweeping, most solemnly or rather, impiously threatened the life of poor Ralph (2), in case he should ever meet him on the mountain or any by place for having presumed to clean the chimneys of this house before his sootish highness arrived hither from Ireland. N.B. — The grimly dark countenance added to his execrable threats and imprecations rendered him a horrible object to bystanders, of which the Bishop chanced not to be one, who otherwise might possibly have been not quite so quiescent an observer, as his thunder-struck consort; before whom the denunciations were uttered; and afterwards even personally to the culprit's own face ; I know not whether he is recovered of his fright yet or not; I hope my Lord Duke's Liege subjects of Douglass are not so roughly treated ; having unswept chimneys to stop his mouth with. Pray, tell Mr Black, with my compliments to him, that as I have done my part with my friend at Amsterdam, towards wiping off the scandal cast upon poor Manksland, it may stand him and his Brother Merchants instead to do the like with theirs at the other great City of Rotterdam. (3) Before I may have occasion to write to Holand again, the Mynheers may for aught I know be here with their Pateraroes (4) to know the Truth at the mouth of our Harbour for they seem to be much out of humour with all the Isles in his Majesty of Great Britain's Dominions

Footnotes

(1)The Non-pareil is an apple which, according to Mr Okell, is well suited to the climate of the Isle of Man.
(2) The Bishop's gardener
(3) Can these remarks relate to a similar privateering exploit to that of the "Tyger" (see Manx Worthies," pp. 172-3)?
(4) - Small cannon, generally used for saluting.