[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XLII

Nov. 19, 1765.

Little did I think (nor you neither perhaps at that time) that when I parted with my Friend Sir John Thorold's (79) letter into your hands, it would have ben detained so long, and travelled so far, as to give umbrage that it was not first showed to a certain principal person :— A defect, however, I have made the best apology for, in my power, without laying anything to your charge, but by taking the whole upon myself, as not thinking the contents of any significant importance, when the Gentlemen of the Isle, I had reason to believe, were previously determined to take an earlier opportunity for application above, than they had taken in their former expedition to England. In the meantime, I think we were wrong, if I may judge from the bustle that the communication of that letter has occasioned, that it was not first offered where it was expected.

However, as I have said what I thought necessary on that head, I would wish you to take no sort of notice to any person whatever about it; for the proverb's sake, "less said, soon amended."

What that "Gloomy Aspect" is which you seem to lament, in the present state of affairs in Mona, I do not apprehend the meaning of.

Lands are cultivated more than ever — manufactures encouraged — mills, wheels, and weavers multiplying daily — Growth of flax beyond what has been known for ages. — A good herring fishery, this last season, and boats building apace for the grey fish market to vie with Dublin. Thousands of sheep brought from abroad to improve the Manks breed. So pray talk no more of "gloomy aspects." Look on your wife's sprightly face and eat your mutton and potatoes and be thankful.

N.B.—I don't mention mutton to remind you of the joint we intruded upon your otherwise well provided table. It was a meer Bishopscourt puff, to shew you what Gloomy times can produce; and I only wanted to have had your Betty to say, "'T'was the finest she ever saw, since she was clerk of the kitchen." I meant it: to have come in time for your inviting your Cumberland friends to, that they might less regard the venison they left behind them. As to the poor Hare which you take notice of because it had a label on't, and the other had none, it was nothing but the refuse of the sportsmen's achievements, who would not be troubled with it.

Brisk as I may seem with my mutton and claret within, there is gloom enough without, occasioned by the death of my best horse, which Jno. Hughes's face is in deep mourning for, as others are in the habit of their bodies on a more publick occasion; which remindsme to desire you will somewhere procure me a stick of fashionable coloured wax, be it Irish, English, or Dutch And now I am in the atrain of commissions, give me leave to desire you to learn, of when you can, what town or county in Ireland is the most likely for my steward, John Hughes, to pick up two or three young horses of about 3 or 4 years old, for I find myself under a necessity of recruiting my teams ; and John is the properest person to send on the errand; and if there is no probable chance of conveyance for him soon at Douglas or Peel, he proposes going over in a Manks boat, bound to the N, of Ireland from Kk. Michael, And if you can procure him a Draught for £30 or £40, I am ready to answer it at Douglas. Should be glad also of a letter recomendatory to somebody for advice and direction towards the business he goes about as he is quite a stranger to the country.

Dear Sir,

Faithfully and affectionately yours, M. S. Mann.

(79)—A large contributor to Manx charities.