[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LXI

Bishopscourt, January 20, 1767

You herewith receive the farm of Mrs Crebbin's (116) Petition, to which I have no objection, unless it be to her specifying the widow's annuity here, according to the Manks currency, which will pass above for £4 British, and thereby make her income appear to the Society rather more than it really is, However, I don't think it will be worth while to write the whole over again, to make that correction; and the making it without a fresh copy will be worse, and so it may e'en go as it is But to be sure £3 6s. 8d. would have been properest, which is £4 Manx. And, indeed, there is no time to be lost. For by the time this can get to Douglass and all the necessary hands are got to it, the pacquet will be here and ready to go for England again. We are already drove full near, considering the chances of delay and disappointments in sending from one to t'other. But if it was now on t'other side, it seems no posts can travel. We may, however, reasonably trust, at all events, that my letter to be enclosed in the Petition (without another cover) may reach Mr Wall some time in the next month. It will be proper that the postago should be paid here, unless any unforeseen opportunity offers to send it free to London. With my wishes of success, toward which I have done all that is in my power,

I am,
Mrs Crebbin's and your
Faithful Servant,
M.S. Mann.

A vessel being seen passing under our banks yesterday, I conclude it to be the pacquet for Whitehaven, but the wind coming about to day to the old point, N.E., she can hardly make her passage, unless, as there being but little wind, she may possibly tack or tide it over.

We were in hopes to-day, morning, the frost was going, but since the wind returned, the frost is returned with it.

In the last parcel, I had a very agreeable letter from our Envoy, who, after the introduction of my letter sent by him to the Speaker, had an hour's conversation with that worthy friend, whom Providence has made such to the Manks nation. During the recess of Parliament a proper case is framing, which, when finished, is to be presented to the Speaker and the Duke of Athol, who have both promised their best advice for the use to be made of it. This is the chief purport of Mr Moore's letter, excepting some compliments to myself, which not being conscious of my title to, I shall spare your reading of. He takes no notion of the disjunction of the ministry, which looks as if all was settled again. However, as Mr Deputy is but on the entance of his scheme and proposals, it will be right not to be too sanguine in our promises of success. The event is in higher hands than earthly powers, and there let us rest it.

I sent Mrs Moore a letter which her husband enclosed in mine to be forwarded, and have received in return an account of his success in taking the prescription of Brandy in water for a pain in his stomach.

Now I see your Mrs Moore raise her crest — at least, I'm sure she will, when she knows I followed her directions, which, I think, I found some good effect of. And yet, methinks I see her smile at the thought of her remedy viz., "If we can but send the Bishop every night half boozy to bed, I'll warrant he'll sleep." As the quantity or proportion of each ingredient is not assigned, the apothecary who mixes them, I believe, is not over careful, which shall exceed, and as the maker is gone to roost, before it is taken, it is swallowed down without asking questions, as nobody is present: to be asked, I call it a medicine, for such it truely is to me, who have no liking to the taste of Brandy; but being pretty well dulcerated (117), and after two or three times repeated, it goes down tolerably glib. So you'll be pleased to pay the doctoress her feel by crossing her hand, or her mouth, which you please? And if that be not sufficient, I will repeat in propria persona, when we next chance to meet.

I shall only give orders that Mr Birkett's measure, when my provider has next the honour of setting one before him, may be somewhat enlarged, as he may now chance to have me a partner of his cup.

My Accomptant General at Bishopscourt, from your observing the usual "n.b." at the close of all bills, "Errors excepted," begs leave for your admitting a question before the year is quite up for settling, at a personal interview. Her question is whether the 2 pounds of tea entered on 19th May mayn't possibly be an error, as it was in her absence, when the Bishop paid for what he sent for, as appears by your account with him, in which is inserted 2 pounds of tea had in June of Mr Drury, which you paid, and sent him your account, together with Mr Drury's receipt in July. Query: Therefore, she says, why that in May was not inserted then, and whether 'tis likely the Bishop should have two pounds in so short a time one after the other ? If you have any discharge from the seller, for tea sent to: Bishopscourt in May, it must be - right, how near soever the succession might be, and though he has no account either in your bills, nor my receipt from Mr Drury, as he had for that in June. If you ean solve this riddle she says you shall be her Magnus Apollo, and I — what you please, not your infallible M., I'm sure.

Footnotes

(116)—Widow of the Rev. Paul Crebbin, Vicar of Santon ; died 1764.