[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XXXVII

Bishopscourt, Dec. 11, 1764.

Omnia tuta recepta, I think is no bad ex-ordium to my present theme. All Mrs Hesther has to say to her neglect of noticing the receipt of your favors, is, that, if you write to her sex, you must not wonder they are not so nimble with their pen as with their tongues. However, she owns herself in fault, which is all the satisfaction she can give you, besides that of her improper dependence on her brother's answering it for her, and forgetting that he amswers none but his own. She is at a loss to account for your addressing her both out and inside of the last: paper by the title of Mrs Goose, which, till she applied to me for a decypherer, she could not discover, to be intended for Govs. (i.e., governess) (63a).

In your inventory there's no mention of a wig; which was therefore flung into the bargain of the cargoe.

How I could express myself so as to give you a notion that six of my boys (64) were dead of the smallpox, I can't imagine—unless in the dictionary down of a distemper signifies dead of it. There is only one dead, that is of my set, and his Brother, whose names are Kneal. Dan Cowley is yet alive, and hope he will do well. Billy Wilks (64a), (Mrs Moore's favourite, and on whom her love and notice were not lost, for he has been. an inquiring when Mrs Moore will come again), seems to be in some danger, being very full and their not, rising kindly.

I think, if the Comptroller (65) went off at the time you mention, he must have a tumbli ing passage: My packet, I conceive, must have a much better, if it be gone, I hope this, which comes now, will have as good a one, My bragging of having made a pood meal, I suppose, will make you conclude I am become athletick. A man that is upon the turning side towards seventy, boast of what he will—must not forget what the Holy Psalmist says, who was well acquainted with the human constitution, . ..

The concern I expressed for the trouble Mr Black must have in collecting the papers from sundry parts of the town, and yours in seeking for conveyance, was another of my Insignificants. And yet, I here say again, why am I not upon a par with the proprietors in the expence; which, I conceive, would entitle me to the next perusal after the resident subscribers.—Whereas, if I pay in less proportion, I ought to be content with such portion as the various perusers, besides the proprietors, shall leave for me. Don't apprehend, however, that I am more querulous than I am—a short answer would do among friends: when you shall judge my query material enough to deserve one.

With your opinion of Peel Podagogue (66) I am satisfied. But you will give me leave to observe, Sir, that there are extremes— which prudence should teach us to avoid; There may be as well too much tenderness as too much asperity. But if we are, at any time, unduly sparing of reproof, for fear of incurring deep resentment, Actum esset de omni Disciplina (66a). If youth are ever (and I suppose you must allow they are sometimes) apt to discover pride and conceitedness, it is fit and useful to them, that their plumes should be crop'd, a little. And it is my real opinion, from observation and experience, that there are more persons hurt by indulgence and connivance than by early restraint and rebuke. Corrupt human nature rather needs a tight than a slack rein. There are exceptions, no doubt, but the ballance I believe lays on t'other side the question.

I have nothing to say at present in respect to your Onesimus, but that I do not find itl om record, that St. Paul's occasional helper in his family, ever declined or deliberately desired to be excused returning to his master Philemon, so you must find a better parallel.

I am not for forcing the unwilling, if absolute necessity does not: call for it: or I had sent Cubbon (67) to Bride. And if he afterwards altered his mind, as was intimated, I did not alter mine, in resolving that what a man refuses, should be oftered to another, if another could be found. Indeed, as matters have turned out since and he has got a living or in election for one,—all is well—or would be if poor Looney's health was established.

In case Providence should see fit to move him to a better place,—perhaps Onesimus may succeed him. He gave me such satisfactory reasons against, accepting a school employment (otherwise than in obedience to my commands), that if he has been softened by you to think better of it, yet my conviction from his reasoning remains; at least till I see you. He would willingy have taken Braddan cure, but that. in kindness to the friend you had been an advocate for, I could not consent to. If indeed that friend of yours quits the land, as you intimate his intentions af doing, We must turn our thoughts about again. Though, by the by, you might have told him, there would be somebody's leave requisite for the completion of that design,

If the clergy I ordain, in case they don't get a living, so soon as, or before they are in Priest's orders, fly the country, I shall be cautious, for the future, who I lay my hands on: I mean of the natives—who are so necessary for the services of the Manke churches.

So, I see. you ate fond of making English Poets of your disciples, or they of being made such. Instead whereof, if they were more exercised in Latin [the language they are to give an account of their faith in, when they came for orders] your eldest scholar would hardly have delivered me composition in, that tongue, as aspecimen of his Latinity, wherein he makes fruor a passive verb and prodere to signifying profitting ;if they were oversights, he should not have suffered them out of his hands before they were inspected and corrected. If I had not the highest opinion of and friendship for you, I would not write thus freely, for I am, very faithfully yours,

M. S. M.

(63a)—The Bishop's sister was frequently referred to as as the "Governesss" ih the correspondence between him and Philip Moore.

(64)—It is not clear who the "boys" were, but they were probably students at Bishopscourt. Smallpox was terribly prevalent at that time.

(640)—Brother of Colonel Wilks.

(65)—John Quayle of Bridge House.

(66)—Master of the Peel Grammar and Mathematical School.

(66a)There would be an end of all discipline.

(67)—See note 62,