[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter XLVIII

Jan. 13, 1766.

Yours, Dear Sir, of 9th and 10th, came safe, though late, to my hands, my neighbour Cowley being none of the swift-footed from, however nimble he may be to, Douglas.

I am sorry to hear of the altercations between the gentlemen of the Civil and Military Departments. They bode no good to the peace of Mona; but, as you say, I hope they will blow over, as well as the cloud you have been endeavouring to dispel. The pleasure you express om your success in that attempt is very natural to so good a heart as yours.

In answer to your question about Decorum, I return another. Where are you to direct, if you do write? Did the Col. tell you? If not, how can you be blameable for omitting to address him, till you see him? 'Tis most probable he is in motion. He has a brother at Huntingdon. He may be there, or at London or elsewhere. Suppose you were to consult Capt. Malcher the Col.'s particular friend. My Compliments to the Capt., and tell him I was in hopes to have seen him.

By your saying, "People don't like to be told thein faults," and that you are almost vexed at my reminding you of yours, you more than almost appear to be serious. If they were real faults, you ought not to be vext at being of them from a Friend, at least, who has a corti of right to that free. dom ; and what {£ have known vou thankful sor heretof re I meant not to remind you of any fault, nor did I tax you with being guilty of fan 3 but as you seemed so positive about ; ie? as to be almost. ready to swear to it, ve 4% mind to convince you of your mis- oe though, in doing so, I intended to be toes ie wae ive make you laugh than i .Be==F Cae Tnattention, Ae He Se Hie ae ies oa combatants on the water will endeavour to con-57

sa each ether of error on yointsa some what = eae than that I made you winch at.

I am obliged to Mr Postmaster of Douglass, for the orders he has been pleased to atl mit to me, through your hands ft will aval but little to say, { don't like them We

could before send half a dozen or more letters in a packet for the same we are now to pay for one, And unless British Parliament franks are allowed to pass here, as they do in Dublin, I can never hear from or answer the Archbishops, but it will, going and coming, cost 6d., ae being in covers \u2018twill be charged as double letters. For nobody sends Franks but in a cover. An unfranked letter ili Hitchin, if it be full, as it, often is, must be cased, and then with land and sea postage, } will cost but ls. 6d., and the hke back, which will make my hearing from my old flock as. Od., for I choose to have both charged to my account.

The next article we are to hear, I suppose, will be a penalty on any boat, but the pacquet carrying letters. And then I think I shall bid fair for saying, "Actum est de Epistolis" (93), with M.S.M. Unless he'll be con- tent to pay Seees ee Com for en eee

is correspondence. or what wi

oe my se eieopall friends, say, if they should ever hear that 4 letters in a packet with the answer, that used to cost. me but 4 Manks pence, will now ee 2s. aoa or 9s. 4d. Manks? Why, they will say, We must write no more a the poor Manks Bishop. But I am not out of hope that their Graces of Canterbury and York, and their Lordships of Durham and Chester, will come as free hither as to any part of Ireland, at least, as far as Douglass.

I don't like Mr Birkett's complaint in his stomach — will he allow me to wish it in his foot, and then I should be futher allowed to congratulate him, when it is there.

"Oh!" (says Mrs Moore) "if those are the best compliments you con send us from Bishopscourt, you may even keep them, for they will not. pass here."

I send this letter principally to give you a hint: for you and the native stranger, intending to accompany you, not to come on the same day the foreign strangers are expected ; if they are to be expected at all, which I know not, as I have no answer to my letter you said you'd take care should be delivered to Mr Surveyor. There is something odd and unaccountable with respect to Mr Betham (94) and Hamilton, who, after declaring so often their intention of seeing Bishopscourt, and yet to let the whole holidays and the fine weather pass and not here yet. I should not be much concerned about it were it not that I would willingly stand clear of any appearance of disregard to my dear and valuable friend's recommendation.

I should choose you shoul \u2018 eae es what. they Bee on Banenee , seem thereby I i

though they have indeed tong thease ae 3

Te 3 :

which y beni Ba their approach, wet

» you know, they commissioned yoy ¢ confirm. You may, possibly, if you von ic

iid ane Jearn somewhat of their Bue

pose, without being the first: mover about it,

et eee is all over with letters,"

Mr fee of Customs, who succeeded 58

With respect to your recon iled enemy you

punpase to bring me, L have only to observe,

that Y have beard 18 ante ad stifling a pe

R ia the bes way Oo conquer an po be Why he should have wide one to ne, | am, a6 I told you, absolutely at a logs to imagine. I have always cautiously avoided mentioning his namp, since he made the most unaccountable atlempts to aot Spine opal authority at defiance, by ASSUMIN W power beyond what the Archbishops or even the

King himself exercises, and, therefore, if

anybody was to be offended, 1 need not pay

who had the justest pretensions to he so,

There is an old saying, but a very bad one,

"OTs tha offender that never forgives." But

T think you have prevailed upon my Brother Judge to countervail that saymg

If my making the first tender of desire of coalition, was or may be im some people's opinion deemed a condescension, it! is such a one (though the other party was not born till some years after I was a settled pastor, and an ecclesiastical judge or surrogate in England) I shall never be ashamed to own. The greatest of conquests is that we gain over one's self, and since my offer has succeeded, by the intervention of a faithful friend, I think I may be allowed to rejoice in my condeseension, as well as you, sir.

I should have been glad if you had given me some hints of those things he took or had imagined he had reason to take amiss. His conduct towards me was public and notorious, and needs no comment or forced construction. But here, let all dye and be forgotten, which is the best way of giving fresh cement to the rejunction. So I say and think too. But it will be almost: unavoidable when we meet, to ask each other after the cause of our late shieness; and then (for this injustice to my- self I cannot but ask) to think and speak no more of it, and to express our mutual desire of renewed and lasting Friendship. But really, sir, you must allow me to say once more, I cannot tax myself with one single trespass against that Gentleman, but what you know as perfectly as anyone living; or more so, for unless what has passed between us tio, I have designedly guarded against anything he could lay hold of at second hand. The resentment has been most shown on that side, where there was least occasion for it. I was to wait on him last, and he is now com- ing, you say, to return my visit, which I shall be very glad and ready to receive, and so much the more when attended, with my worthy Friend, whose I am as always affectionately,

M.S. M.