[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LI

Bishopscourt, Feb. 26, 1766.

Your parishioner Mr Christan, whom I was going to say I had sent to Douglas on a fool's errand, this day delivered your letter acquainting me with what I well know, that he had fumbled about extenting his lease, which I had sufficienty talked over when he was here some weeks ago when I told him if Mr Moore, his minister thought I ought to let him have the tithe, notwithstanding his having declined it, he should have it: instead whereof he only brought me your recollection of his demur. However, I granted his request and he seemed much pleased therewith. H is very good pay, and i think your Curate will be liked never the worse by his flock, for having no demand upon them. And indeed he is so very backward in looking upon me, that I don't know whether he looks on me as an acquaintance. I fancy his disappointment of another London journey, he fully depended on, don't sit very easy upon him. And after all it remains uncertain whether we shall get a printer here or not. The Glasgow man I hope has my answer to his letter, which I desired you or Mr Sewel, I forget which , I forget which, to pay the postage of.

The Thirty pounds you want to lay out at once for the poor, now corn is so dear, may be very right, if so much be in hand and if the Governor approves of exhausting the whole arrear at once my consent shan't! be wanting. Why the wardens and the town cry out for an application and don't make it, I know not unless they found me disposed to withold from the poory. If relief is wanting and unsupplied, let the blame return from whence it came. Three lines subscribed by Chaplain and Ward would have produced whatever was needful. And therefore to tell me of crying out and doing nothing, is a sort of charging it to the Trustees' door.

The books from London are not all of them for the scholars, besides I must see whether all are come I sent for. My visitor [to Kk. Michael Court] is just gone to bed : not so tired with his journey as with arrear of rest, since the last nights. By the letters you sent me, I see the pacquet is here again before the 2nd Monday: one of them in two days from Whitehaven, and the other in six from London. This will do if we go on thus Mr Birket must had a fine voyage, I mean a quiet one. I should not dislike such another for myself or sister. I much fear whether the snow will be withdrawn in due time for her land travelling to Douglass, Not to reach Bath before the close of March will be a great disappointment, for that is the choice season, but wind and weather, as the tars say, can't be commanded, I hope Mr Birket, and consequently my letters he has been so kind to take charge of, are safe on English ground,

I wrote to you by Mr Wilks via Balnahowin to-day, but question whether any conveyance will offer there, as I hear it is Castletown business.

I shall offer this for conveyance to-morrow at Michael.

Faithfully yours, M.S.M.