[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XI

Bishopscourt, Aug. 17, 1761.

The Bearer brings my Brother Moore a dozen of Cyder, which I hope will prove as much to his satisfaction as it does to mine. He has likewise 3 dozen jonquil roots, which must be planted in good soil, as soon after they come to hand as conveniently may be.

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter by the box, which contains seeds from London, the produce of which may possibly some time fall to your share. And I had likewise yours by the Mathematical Preceptor of Douglass : whom I had the pleasure to convince, that he would gain much honour and eredit, by adding the more useful part of instructing his disciples in the Principles of Religion, and thereby prepare them for their pastor's examination, in order to confirmation. And he has also promised me to afford them that best of all instructions, his own good example. His engagements sometimes, he owns, carries him from hence, on Saturdays, but denies the charge of ever travelling on Sunday. I advised him to acquaint with his worthy teacher at Douglass, in which he would find his account. So far so good.—The successions you mention in the Episcopate are just what I expected. I am obliged to you for the compliment you make your friend M.S.M., but I have to reply that I have already full as much weight as my weak shoulders can carry: and am happily not at all solicitous or even desirous of further advancement, or possibly with much pains and application I might obtain it, by the same interest that aa oe hither. If I can tread after my worthy predecessor (licet' non passibus quis) (17a), 'twill be the height of my ambition.

You are very good in advising me of the dispatch of my packets over sea whereby I have tolerable guess when they will come to hand.

You mention N. in a former letter, which I suppose was accompanied with M. This contained an address to Miss Kippax (18) in answer to one from her, complaining of the hardness she suffers from her Manks friends amongst the clergy.

The other had only a single letter to the Bishop of Durham, which I hope will reach him before he leaves Auckland. My friend at the Rolls writes me, that he declined re- suming his seat in Parliament as finding it very incompatible with his business in another capacity: In which he tells me at the close of the Term he sat 9 hours without a respite or refreshment, and another day, eleven, with oie half an hour to take breath and sustenance.

I hope the emissary that attends the delivery of my letters, by the help of the memory powder you administered, will turn to account pains, never deserve. ; My only consolation is, 'that my setting up in that way, was not, of my own appointment, bit wholly by that of my good partial friends. What made the merit of my labours in that compartment the less was my not undertaking to confine my lectures to any hour or number of hours: but to take them at leisure, and when jt best suited my otherwise employed time or inclina- tion. I wish you no worse than to have the like trial, for the like compensation,

Your fears for your Deacon Curate have at present little or no foundation—what I refered to was another of the sort who thought his attendance not requisite at times it was most essentially so. I could wish methinks your substitute and his control (?) were separate from their Dams in due time. I think that house near the church with a little reparation might suit them well :—and the Rector too, whenever he visited his flock.

As you will not be often over in winter, less may be said of the hazard of a chimny so near the bed. But the steep Staircase, I think, can never be agreeable to Mrs Moore, either winter or summer. The Prioress of the Manse seems to be good of her kind. But I think the dwelling I refer to a far pleasanter situa- tion: the most so, perhaps, of any in the land of Man. Choice fish and pebbles-near at hand, not to say hares in plenty. I don't say this to tempt you to residence (19): but to encourage a curate to prefer it to any change or removal. You see how many lines I am. ready to bestow on you. But I don't know that you are able or obliged to read them, without a decipherer, even more skilful than yourself. Mrs Moore may try her skill if your nursery don't allow you time to exert yours in making out all that is said or wrote by -

Yr. Friend and Bro. M.S. M.

I have heard it: said in England that a postscript generally contained the principal subject or design of a letter; but I believe that was it signified a demand or dun for a debt.

Mine however is only to desire you to ask your namesake the merchant brewer whether he can and will engage to furnish me with a few draughts of such liquor as he dispenses to his chaplain; if so, should be glad he would per first opportunity order me a vessel to Ramsey.

I would likewise wish you to bespeak me a broad Winchester Bushell ; I believe, though Im not sure, the diameter should be 24 inches. I know it is not the measure used here: but I want it for my curiosity to compare the ton of coals with our English chaldron.

What came of my flying gib pendant? Is none to be had of the sort short of his Majesty's Dock-yards ? I am glad it is to be rated among the non-necessaries or I should be apt to cry out on Manks Expedition! This full paper in return for your evening poets. Don't let my bushel be made by guess, but exact measure right Winchester. If the Bishop of that See, my schoolfellow, had not been al- ready transplanted, I imagine he would have gone to Youk: which I should have been much pleased at: I had lately a courteous letter from him in answer to my congratulation.

(17a)— "Though not with equal steps,"

(18)— Daughter of the late Archdeacon, who died in 1760.

(19)— The Bishop is writing about Philip Moore's curate in Bride, He (Philip Moore) had been transferred from Ballaugh to Bride in 1769.