[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LXXXII

Bishopscourt, Dec. 17, 1770

Dear Sir,

I have yours of the 15th, to which I have to say, as you know I mean you well, you will interpret all that, I say or write to you, not as intending to disturb you, and whatever I advise is not to break your peace, but to improve it, The troubles you suffer will like all earthly troubles by time and patience wear off and subside.

I did not, mean, by your writing to your curate to reside that you had taken upon you to do it by authoritative order; and if you had, if you could have cirected hin: to the means, I don't know that it would have been an improper order. I have enjoined him to visit the parish three times a week, Sundays and holidays, and other days of church duty included. Not that I believe that will be sufficient, to stop the complainants' mouths who pertinaciously insist upon constant residence. However it will stop mine till I have opportunity to talk with you. I am sorry for any impediment that has occurred to your riding, fearing it may make you unable to come over at Easter, when your presence at your parish will be so indespensably expected; especially since what has lately - happened. My chief business with Mr Corlett: was to ask him by whose licence ond authority he had hired a house and land out of the parish he was appointed to serve. If when he removed from Lezayre you had taken the oportunity to say what you do now to him, it would, I think, have had a better appearance, and perbeaps, better effect, IT received the letter you sent me from Mr Wood, who writes as he is, like a sensible man, and a good Christian. Poor man!

I pity him and his wife heartily. Time, time, sees an end of all troubles as it will of the troubled themselves. The enclosed letter for the post is a recommendation from Hesther to our sister in London to engage her notice of the two damsels from Kirk Andreas, who, poor girls, are going up to seek places for a livelihood in a wide town where they know no one creature in it. Whether our sister there can help or assist them in what they aim at is rather to be wished tham promised. However, I wish the letter may arrive before the persons con- cerned in it. The quality notions imbibed in, this Island, I doubt will not be of real service ta them; for ladies' waiting maids are provinces hard to meet with, and when they are, not always the most desirable. But they seem to resolve to be content with lower stations to begin with. Their never having been out: ati service too, I fear, will be another obstruction, to their success: Buti then again, Londoners are generally fond of far come lasses, who have no acquaintance near them. ; It shocked me so much to see two such sightly young women, preparing to shoot the Gulph, that I was unable to say much to them, and therefore wrote them some stricures of advice. It seems they have no friends in this Isle whe are acquainted at London If your niece had been there. I dare say you would have given her a line for her assistance. I wish they don't spend all their little fortune befove they meet with a proper reception in a sober family. I wiished them well, and committed them to the blessing and protection of Providence If you see them, as probably you may when they come to Douglas ta embark, I dare say, you will add a word of your friendly exhortation

I am, Dear sir, as much as possible your well wishing friend and brother,

M. SODOR & MAN

Hesther says, Does Mr Moore think of our almanacks as heretofore ? And when they come will find her compliments of thanks, as we both now do, for the winter evening volumes now received. :