[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LXXX

Jan. 24, 1769

My Bro Moore, I dare say, will recover his astonishment at seeing a billet of commissions from me unsubscribed when I acquaint him as I do now that it is not infrequent with me to send notes or orders to persons I often address on such occasions without making my mark. But by his dressing up a page of initial remarks on epistolary forms I perceive he meant to be so kind as to furnish an excuse for me , which by taking that trouble, he thought needed one. I am only sorry, sir, that the comfort you take from the example I had set of error or oscitancy must fail you, when the truth is that the omission you so much wondered at was, in reality, no mistake; for it was with my eyes open, my pen in hand, and my wits about me, that I forbore to turn over to the next blank page (having filled one) in order only to insert a monosyllable or three capital letters, on the other; thinking the contents would be as effectually favoured with your attention as if I had given them a dozen sign manuals. I don't know, indeed, whether I should have taken, the same liberty with some other of my correspondents, perhaps not with the Bishop of Durham (tho' well acquainted with my hand writing) because I should scarce address his Lordship on the subject of soap and candles. But in case it should have so happened that I should have failed subscribing my name at the close of a letter to his Lordship, I much question whether, or am rather persuaded he would have taken no notice of it — at least till we met again in conversation.

I here return the paper you enclosed, duly signed, for my part. I suppose: it will go jointly to clergy and laity through the Isle, without the necessity of a distinct and separate circulation; for my Registrar is so anxiously engaged with his two sons now both at home under fevers, as to be incapable of attending any other business.

An application to the poorer clergy possibly might as well have been spared. For I wish they mayn't need contributions to carry on their suit in defence of the ancient rights to tithe fish, now withheld and which I apprehend, was held as one main part of the support of their families. However I shall leave it to them and everyone of them to subscribe to the proposal now offered, as they shall best judge, for themselves, of their abilities. Ninety Pounds, my good brother, is a vast sum to have already expended in the suit, before advocates have been called upon to open their mouths at the Board.

For my part, I foresaw from the beginning and am now convinced that I should have been, a gainer by giving up my share to the appellants, as I probably should have done were it, not in compassion to My brethren, whose circumstances could ill afford such a diminution of their livelihood. The pretence or complaint of oppression in the Clergy's demand of the absolute tenth is not the real or whole of the boatmen's meaning, for, when there was no fraud or concealment, abatements were always made of the legal demand, but the aim, it seems, is to prove the right to tithe fish is devolved on the King.

You see what our Agent Mr Hamersley says and we must be content: to wait to see what Providence and his Majesty's council board shall determine.

In the meantime, I rest now and always my good Brother Moore's and the rest of my brethren's very faithful and assured friend and wellwisher

M. SODOR & MANN,

P.S. Friday evening, 27 Jan 4 o'clock 1769. Just arrived a sacking parcel and two other parcels, and two rheams of paper, One of the small parcels was the long looked for Society sermons of which I here send you

Although it was very fair overhead, every thing was sadly wet from below The man says his horse was often up to the belly in water, but with a little fine drying, I hope the damage will not be great.

Mr Wilks's eldest son is alive and that's all, The younger mending Dr. Gilespie I think had a great escape of hurt by his horse's tossing up all fours

Qu, Any mould candles to be had at Douglas? says Hester, with her compliments,

I can't yet learn when the pacquet has sailed.