[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XXII

Bishopscourt, Septr. 11, 1763.

Sunday, I know is thought by some, a convenient day for visiting, as it is by others for writing letters, neither of which having been my usual practice, I have never, tho' occasionally complied with, been without some degree of self-condemnation. Works of charity are always excepted, as by our Saviour. so of course by all his servants. Under what denomination this I am about is to be ranked, I am not so sure as I should be, if it contained a prescription for Mrs Moore's complaint, which I sincerely feel a sensible concern for though no way able to help her, but with my prayers and wishes. What says our Brother Clare with his budget of Infallibles. But perhaps he'll leave off practice as an AEsculapius, now his fresh honours of this world's goods flow in upon him. These accumulations or sudden blasts of fortune, I conceive, will e'er long: fill his sails for the English shore, even without the ecclesiastical breeze to help out. i see no defect in Mr Quayle's (38) compliment, but much depends on countenance and looks which, as I have often observed, paper wants: or you would not have thought twice about aenigmatical postscripts. It was of no great importance, whether I understood it or not ; but you have it here with notes ; sufficient to satisfy your solicitous inquirier, if you'll please to show it her. The text itself, I'll defy her to decypher, with all her penetration. If not having letters explanatory of my puzzle, has puzzled you ; I must teach you to know, that my not writing every week is not to be interpreted as a sign of my being touchy. I must use you to hear seldomer, to prevent unfavourable constructions; one day's conference in person is worth a hundred epistolary disertations.

How shall I get Mr "Tonsor Quayle" (39) over to me, if he has no business to call him further North? Perhaps he makes the Archdeacon's wigs.

We began indeed to question whether Mrs Moore had been so long from Bishopscourt for these eight years past ; and were under temptation to attribute it to the want of the usual attraction that is gone. But alas! we are sadly set right by intelligence of another cause. I am sorry, as Miss Bell would say, as you can't think how much! 'Tis a misfortune the sex are unhappily subject to; for which they are much to be pitied and humoured in all things; for pain, be the sufferer ever so patient, will sometimes get the better of the most gentle mortal. This, however, I have been long convinced of, that women can and do bear better than we do. Whether from being better Christians, I leave to be hereafter discussed. For the present I am her and your Affectionate and compassionate friend,

M.S.M.

My packet for England was ready to go off with Gilbert on Saturday morning, when, as usual, he had liked to have a sore day; but for a prohibition that took place about 7 in the morning: for though it turned out a fair afternoon he must have been sadly soused, if he had gone

Example P.M., a postscript (40).

Mrs Providitrix at Bishop's Court, being distressed for a male president in her porcarian family, as she was some time ago in that of her vaccarian,has sent an ambassage to Douglass to provide one, as such (as she is informed) is to be had there. He is to bring a three gallon bottle on his return, one box of candles, do. common sort of 14 to the pound, to come by custom horse of which the Sergeaunt has notice per letter enclosed.

(38)—"Mr Quayle," i.e. John Quayle Comptroller of Bridge House

(39) Tonsor Quayle," evidently a Douglas barber

(40)—Philip Moore was famous for his long postscripts