[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter VIII

March, 1761.

Just emerged from the greatest depth of snow ever known in these parts! Raven Dan, a supernumery in the Ark at Bishopscourt, was sent out three several days to try for a passage to Kk Michael and as severally returned, with "not a place to set his foot on but at hazard of being more than over his head".—The road on each side from 6 to 8 and 10 feet deep, and not yet passable for a horse without danger.

We have almost of every kind taken into the house for life's sake. Fifteen sheep dug out of the snow, and 14 lambs got safely into a stable by my steward's assiduity.

We are now quite clear about my Demesnes and I am upon the tramp as heretofore. But the road-lanes have great quantities in them still. - We shall hear in time, how it has fared in other parts of the Isle ;—and whether Engand, etc., have shared the like with us. '

And now for the good and bad news in the Douglass-Courant of 22 Feb.—Authore P.M - "Little hopes of life,— we have but to submit" (p. 1). "Hope she's on the mending hand" (p. 2). - Had the poor lady been actually expiring you seem quite prepared for it: and have felt perhaps near if not quite as much as if she was gone. For my part I never gave her up; notwithstanding your dismal accounts - I considered, she had weathered several very sore attacks ; The last is generally thought the worst, because what is immediate impresses more than recollections of past tryals. You on the spot however must be best judges. Youth on her side, too, was another 1efuge my imagination had recourse to, for the young must dye as well as old people sometimes, yet it is not common for persons of her age to go off with that disorder,—if it be hereditary. I will venture to congratulate Mr Black and all but herself on the prospect of still being detained a while out of heaven. If she had gone, the deliverance would have been hers once for all:—as she stays, her friends will rejoice in hope of her living to surmount these severe turns om her delicate frame.

And now for business—I take it for granted the books were on board the Blackhaller, as Statham says so: and may come when horses can come.—I shall be glad of your answer to the following qu:

Can you recommend a sober regular shoemaker for Dan Cowley to be apprenticed ?

Have you any galls and other materials for ink to be produced in Douglass ?

Any oyl, that will not be smelt above the distance of the room where it is?

Any passage for wheel carriages (9) by Ballaquayle to Douglass ?—when the snow's gone,

And now for poor Heather whose eyes, the best part of her poor brittle frame, have for this fortnight been so affected as not to suffer her to read, write, or work, which to one that is never used to sit with her hands before her, (as is the common phrase for idleness) is very uncomfortable, The inflammation is little or nothing, but too weak for any use almost whatever. She tried the great nostrum, but thought she was the worse for it; and now she sticks to brandy and water. I am in hopes they are rather on the mending, hand : otherwise as she says : I will be a sad thing, to go to be led about in England.

I am sorry to hear of your name-sake's disorder ; Fevers on strong men have generally strong effect. I desire you will send my enquiries, if proper, or seasonable.

Young Christian (15) got to me the day before the snow, and I am to try if I can't spoil him, as I did his predecessor. I find he is almost a blank paper, notwithstanding the vast cries up of his vehement scholarship. His uncle sent me a list of books he had read, enough to frighten a learned Jew. He is : tolerably versed in Greek Testament. But it is time he should know things, as well as words, or Dan Cowley will have the head of him by many bars. Well:—I shall try not only what he is made of, but what I can (adjuvante Deo) make of him.

Hoping for good accounts from Douglas, I and my blind housekeeper are your and all friends.

Affecte Servts, M.S.M. & Co.

If my letters for England go by Liverpool you'll please to mark it E — unless my last went that way and then it must be F and you may just say received at Bishopscourt as far as F inclusive. But probably these will go by the pacquet. Statham mentions something of thanks to Mr Moore for his kind letter.

(15)—Probably Thomas Christian, Vicar of Marown from 1780 to 1799. He translated part of "Paradise Lost", into Manx.