[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter X

July 23, 1761.

Your acceptable beverage arrived safe, and I was not so many minutes as you prescribe days before I took a pull at it. Whether I shall be more punctual in returning the proposed equivalent, than I have been in finding the two scape-volumes time must shew.

With respect to the mahogeny (17) tumbler, I must still desire you to pay the artificers half a crown damage, which, with the two more, I'm sure it deserves for double carriage, 1s a loss I am content to bear, without putting it to the fatigue of another journey. . . .

If the deposit in your custody is too heavy for your pocket, you may please to transmit it to the purse of your excellent treasurer, if she care to be troubled with it:—or you may pay some dribbling debts of mine contracted in your metropolis ; for the discovery of which I doubt you must employ the bell-man ; for I cannot tell you exactly where and what they are. But Mr King, I believe, is one of my creditors. The ingenious Mr Cannell whenever he comes will be welcome to Bishopscourt. But he must excuse my sending my horses a second time. Perhaps a christening may intervene te prevent him next. What if his spiritual guide should conduct him to prevent his missing his way? When you come, whatever he may be, I desire you will so order it as not to be in hurry to return, as soon as the work you propose to execute be finished,

Yr. Affecte Frd and Br.,

M.S. & MANN

My women salute you and yours

(17) "Mahogeny" is a strange material for a tumbler, but a reference to his next letter will show that the Bishop seems to be speaking of a table.