[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter II

February, 1760.

Between your jocular letter to my sister and your serious one to me of Mons. Thurot's invasion, in Ireland and being so near as to be almost within sight or hearing ;— we were in some doubt of the validity of the report : — Till we were amply and sensibly resolved, by what passed but a little way from us yesterday morning — and what that was, you have by this time no need of my relation, on paper, as you will e'er now have had more enough of personal description from the numbers that have been to wait on Thurot's remains at the sea-camp at Ramsey

Such warlike engagements are somewhat uncommon sights on the coast of Manksland and we have in the present instance been favoured with a deliverance almost before we knew of our danger. May we all make a right account of it — and not think we shall have the less reason to acknowledge our unworthiness on the 14th as if we had been spared on account of the virtues of Mona's inhabitants, (5)

I have nothing to add at present but that Jack returned safe with his merchandize notwithstanding the French were at his heels.

My sister says she hopes you don't expect her hand to paper to be as nimble is yours. So must accept of me as General Secretary for Bishopscourt, which makes me some times subscribe.

Yours, M.S. Man & Co.

I am in pain for the "Ramillies" as I am also for the " New-Success " (6), Capt. Charles Lace. The loss of either I hope is not unquestionable. That the latter is missing, I have heard from several hands; and if my packet by Corlett on the 14th was put on board him, that accounts for its not being at Liverpool on the 14th."

Footnotes

(5) The Bishop, who viewed the beginning of the fight with Thurot from the shore, near Bishopscourt, wrote as follows, to Commodore Elhot: "The Bishop of this Isle of Mann desires to have the honour of presenting his respectful compliments of congratulation to Commodore Elliot and the rest: of the officers of his Majesty's ships now in Ramsea bay upon the happy event of yesterday's engagement on the N.W. coast of this Isle. May all his Majesty's forces be blessed with such Commanders and attended with the like success. The Bishop would think himself happy to have it in his power to show any marks of courtesy to any of the gentlemen at his Country Manse."

(6) Manx traders.