[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XX

Bishopscourt, May 14, 1763

I don't know any secular business there was for me to attend at Peel, as my barony courts were over before I went. I am returned in health, after having paid a visit to a happy Brother, tho' living in the desarts of Arabia.

When I came home, the first question naturally uppermost, "Where is, etc.", struck me all of a heap, and I was some while before I recovered the shake it gave me, This is not to be wondered at om my first excursion from. home. But Dr. Time (they tell me) will heal the wound. It may be so. Time will shew this (30a).

I have answered Mr Hamilton's (30b) letter. My good and kind director and regulator, Mrs Moore, in a late melancholy ceremony (a ceremony that I every day repent my having complied with), I hope has endeavoured to rectify that gentleman's notion of slight neglect, he conceived himself to have suffered, in not being distinguished, with mourning ensigns, as an officer of the Isle. I had much rather he had spared his journey and company, when not expected or desired ; and given it me, when it would have been more than a compliment, because really useful; as have been all the friendly visits I have received, from helping to keep me from reflecting on a misfortune not to be remedied by thinking.

Coughs still and still abounding from side to side at the Old Schoolhouse! If you had got to a new one, you might have charged your maladies to that change of quarters.

This fine weather and fair winds, I suppose, have set your neighbours safe and well down at Carlisle.

I hope I shall see you and yours well on this side, when time best suits. And after our great day (31) is over I purpose turning my face Southward; and making Kk. Braddan or Douglass and Marown in my way to or from Castletown ; to confirm at Malew, etc., but I believe I shall take the furthest first, except- ing that I may possibly pay a visit first at the Nunnery (32).

N.B.—Mrs Jos. Cosnahan is almost the only acquaintance we have, that has not looked upon us in our affliction (33), though I hear of her frequent excursions from home.—But— We are aliens.

The papers are here returned; and I and sister are Your and Mrs Moore's obliged friends, M.S.M. &c.

Whether I have wrote since the receipt yours of sundry dates, I will not be sure; if not, and any material articles remain unanswered, you must remind me. With regard to any goods or parcels laying for me at Doglass, you'll permit me to jog your memory with my request, that if 1t were only a packet that immediate opportunity did not offer for conveyance, I would gladly have a custom- horse charged with it. For there is seldom a year, but that convenience more or less remains uncalled

(30a)— Mrs Hildesley died in February.

(30b) Surveyor-General of Highways.

(31) "Great day", probably Convocation which is held on Thursday in Whitsun Week,

(32)— Then the residence of Peter John Heywood, afterwards Deemster (see "Manx Worthies," pp. )

(33) Mrs Jos. Cosnahan," the wife of the Vicar of Braddan of that name,