[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XXIII

Bishopscourt, Octr. 10, 1763

In answer to my good friend the worthy, Rector of Bride and his Rectoress's Inquiry after me and my late undertaking, I am in mediately set down to tell them, that on Friday night, the 80th past, I received 4 written Intimation from Mr Jno Taubman (11) that the old Deemster died that day, and was to be buried on Sunday. This put me to my deliberation whether to set out the next day for Castletown, upon an Intimation without express Invitation; by the latter only having yet attended any funeral since my being in the Isle. But finding by Councillor W.'s silence who was by, that my attendance would be expected, I gave orders to set out on all fours and chariot the next day: which turned out, beyond expectation, fine, and arrived safe and well about one. The weather, which the glass foretold on Saturday, came to some purpose the next day, and was the severest, during the ceremonial procession of vast numbers of both sex, high and low, wading through pools of water to Malew Church. The governor and I having, received a dispensation, just when setting out, which designed, as is usual, to walk the length of the psalm singing, got into my carriage, which was at hand, after first going four or five yards from the door.

In walking into the church the wind was so high, the grass so slippery, and the crowd so great, that every body almost tumbled about or against one another. The governor being somewhat weighty did not so easily recover his bias and fell twice upon a grave stone, which produced a bad cut and a bruise on the same shin; and the stocking being cut through, my white handkerchief, which I happened to have, served for a covering ; and he ventured to stay the service, not being willing to go off without me, but which he should have done had I conceived his wound was so bad, as appeared on examination. But a still worse alarm happened to us, after- wards, though providentially in event not what, might have befallen us—by a very near severe overthrow in our carriage as we were returning from the buryal; our wheels being tossed two feet from the ground as spectators told us, by Mr Heywood (42) ramscan driver, who must needs show his dexterity, the post road drivers often exercise in England, by attempting to outstrip the foremost. If the effect had been what by-standers, or walkers, that saw it, expected, it must have been terrible, by reason of the swiftness with which the lad drove: Our glasses were all up and the Governor not being able to stand on his leg or raise himself if we had fallen.

No master can always be answerable for the indiscretion of his servant, for I can't suppose Mr Heywood ordered his, to drive by in order to outrun the Governor, but every gentleman knows or ought to know what is civil or polite, and whether Mr Heywood was so, when, after staying two hours at Castletown and knowing what had befallen the Governor and what, jeopardy his mad boy had put us in, he never sent a how do ye or apologizing message nor called himself to make any, must be left to a jury of the laws of gentility to determine I had indeed a verbal apology from him a week afterwards by his tenant Watts Whether he has thought fit to make any verbal or written or in person to the Governor, since I left Castletown, I have not heard. Tis certain our lives were in peril by the violence of his charrioteer's prowese in. driving } what sort of notice from his master was afterwards due to the escaped, I leave others to way, as not thinking it for myself proper to judge.

That he was not unapprized of the danger we had been in before he left Castletown, We learnt from one that talked with him about it, soon after what, had happened.

The Governor's severe hurt by his fall, too, one would think, had been matter fit for a message at least. As to my own part, I look on myself as only an appendage to what his honour might have further suffered : and upon the first interview with Mr Heywood I don't doubt all will be right. And therefore I would not choose to have what I here say to you transpire. It may serve for you and your partner to chat over and pass your verdict on; but no more.

I continued at Castletown all Monday, not daring to venture over the rivers. But by two o'clock the next day I arrived safe and well at Bishopscourt.

Where I am Your and your lady's

Most: affectionately, M.S. & MANN.

Mrs Housekeeper is well and presents her respects.

The account from Ramsey is terrible!

(41)—John Taubman, (died 1799), the writer of the letter, was nephew of Deemster John Taubman, who held that office from 1747. He was afterwards Speaker, and bought the Nunnery from Deemster Peter Heywood, but he never lived there,

(42)—Peter Heywood (see note 32) was then 24 years old,