[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LXXVII

Bishopscourt, Thursday, Dec. 8, 1768.

My trusty agent is hereby certified of the receipt of the printing paper, which I must forward to Ramsey. My thanks, as due, may be given to Mr Collecter, for his civility in taking no duty for works of charity, such as the printing of the Scriptures in the mother-tongue must be esteemed by every one not a Papist.

And here, when I mention charity, or charitable persons, I am reminded of our benevolent friend, Sir John Thorold, and as he owns you for an acquaintance, I now send you his last letter, containing his usual good wishes toi the progress of our great and good undertaking, Should you choose to transcribe that part which I have enclosed in crotchets, you are welcome so to do, if you will be at the trouble; but I would not have the letter put into other hands for that purpose

Your coadjutor at Ballaugh (137), I fanvy, was under a mistake, if ever he intimated or supposed that corrector Corlett (138) would undertake the transcribing part, together with his business of correcting the press. Mr Wilks called on him the other day, on his way to Ramsey, and Corlett told him he could not pretend to engage for both. What now is to be done as to the point of transcribing, I know not, nor can direct. I only hope Providence, which has thus far favoured the work, will also help us out of this difficulty.

I am not for spurring the free horse to death, nor even to a tiring. Your home duty at school and chapel is a plea, I must own, of weight. Do what is most agreeable to yourself; and either return to your quarters here after Christmas, or forbear it. Which way soever you determine, be assured, you will not only retain the regard and good opinion, but have the thanks also, of our friend, Sir John Thorold, and myself.

Queere, whether, after the sundry notices that Sir John has taken of Mr Reviser Moore, it would not be proper for you to write him a letter? I can answer for its being agreeable; for, excepting myself, no one has directly expressed to him the sense which the clergy have of his pious and noble encouragement, given to the undertaking we are engaged in.

N.B. He: does not mind expence nor grudge postage. I recollect with pleasure what he said to me above three years since, when I was engaged in my main object of Subscrip- tions, "The progress made in this much-wanted work exceeds expectation; and may serve to support the inference, that it is not right to despair of success, Christo duce, et auspice Christo." (139)

Yours, Mark Sodor & Mann.

(137)—Mattthias Curghey, Vicar-General.

(138) Henry Corlett, Vicar of German.

(139)—Christ being our leader, and under the auspices of Christ.