[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XXXVI

Bishopscourt, Dec. 1, 1764

My Brother Moore's, of 27th and 28 before me. But you must excuse me, Sir if I don't return a particular answer, as the subject of some part of yours may seem to require; that especially relating to a future supply of the vacancy likely to to happen in your school, etc. Which would be endless - canvassing by letter, unless we were as far distant from each other as some clergy in England are from their Diocesan. Sometimes between this and Easter, 'tis to be hoped we may have opportumity for personal debate and consultation: tho' not by the return of my present visitors. It is as much as could be expected if they were ladies for me to see them home and hardly that. But you'll say I wrote so heroically about riding that you only gave me notice you were prepared to see me.

I hope by this time you have heard of Corlett's (63). safe landing at Liverpool, notwithstanding the wind came against him on Monday and so continued ever since.

I take for granted you are recovered by this time, and pray take care to keep well - I don't mean by stoving up by the fire side, by not standing in gardens or elsewhere - as I have some interest in your life and health, I have also a right to enjoin your care in preserving them.

My guests here are both booted ready for posting. But unless they had each a mistress at Douglass, they were impatient to be with I can't find the necessity of their call to go forth in this rain. Whether they will be so rash, however, remains as doubtful, as when somebody else was here in like circumstances.

I cannot help thinking that the collecting the newspapers from all parts of the town to send to Bishopcourt must occasion Mr Black or somebody in his family a great deal of trouble. If I was upon a par with the rest of the proprietors in my subscription (which I conceiveI am not) I should then think myself entitled to the papers mext immediately after the perusal of Ross, Black, and Christian, who I presume, are the only subscriber beside myself. But what with the looking them up and sending about and also your care in transmitting, incline me to give up thoughts of my partnership at the expiration of the year, unless I am admitted on equal payment, and even then should be content to return them punctually.

I did not design you above half a page when I took up my pen, but like somebody else, my pen runs whether I will or no.

I received my packets safe by these good gentlemen; my hat I am in no haste for. i expect a bag of hops next; and deare, dear hops they will be.

I have a small dept at Stevens. Will you be so good as to discharge? It was by chance I heard that the goods I wanted were to be had there for neither by writing nor personal information, though both sought for could I for these two years be able to learn what that honest man dealt in. This shieness or indifference of Manks Tradesmen is called modesty. What says Mrs Moore, my country- woman ? Have shopkeepers in Eingland to be so courted, or do they not, rather court custom, I believe I have transmitted hundreds to England for goods, not knowing they were to be had here, And so now I shall go on in my old track without making any further interest to be let into the shops at Douglass. I am far from expecting the homage of being sollicited for my custom, though usual in England, by the tradesmen there. But a small hint! at second-hand that "I deal in such and such things if Stranger Mark, that is come amongst us, has occasion, I shall be willing to serve him." Instead of this, we have threats at the bottom of bills, "if we don't pay higher price than heretofore agreed for, to expect no more work or goods.'' This makes me apply to a Manks friend for his interest in his countrymen to provide me sometimes with what my own application possibly might not obtain. But enough of this and to spare. My young gentlemen begin to stir—and I will not detain them longer than to thank those friends whoever they were, that helped me to their company, which has been very agreeable, and I am their friends' and my friends'

obliged Servt, : M. S.. M.