I hope my dear Brother this will reach
you before you leave Venice, though I have delayed writing
rather longer than I intended, from the hurry of moving and
number of things there is always to be done on coming to
a new place. I received your letter of 5^th March from Rome
before we left Bath, and Charles has since received one from
Naples dated the 21^st of the same month. It gives us great
pleasure to find you still continue to be so well amused
with your journey, {^^but} I own I am not sorry to find that
nothing had put old England out of your head, and what
you say in Charles’s letter about returning sooner rather than
we expect you gives me great satisfaction, and most
truly rejoiced shall we be to see you when you get
back again. We have left Bath near three weeks,
we moved our quarters rather earlier than usual
this year on M^rs Johnson’s account, who though in daily ex-
pectation is not yet confined to her bed. She and M^rs
Craven are both very well, and desire to be kindly
remembered to you, the latter hopes you will contrive
to pay us a visit {^^here} when you return to England, though you
was so much hurried we could not have the satisfaction
of seeing you before you sat out. My little folks too
are all very well, the eldest often asks after her uncle

[f.86v]

who is such a great many miles off. We have had a
delightful season, the spring is most uncommonly forward, though
it has been in some measure checked by some rain and cold
winds within this week or ten days, but they have not been
materially prejudicial. It is remarkable that whilst England
Sweden, Denmark and the other northern Kingdoms have
enjoyed the mildest winter that ever was remembered, Italy,
Turky and the other southern ones have suffered so much from
the uncommon severity of the season. It has been a charming
year for young plantations and I expect to find your’s at
Witham in a most flourishing state. I believe the letter to
Thorne that I wrote from Witham was lost in which I told
you I had planted a few single trees in the fields in front
of the house, Woolley had some spare posts and rails out of
the stuff he bought for fencing the others which I thought
might be as well xx employed, as laid up in the barn, and
the trees I got out of the plantations, there are six or eight
of them, and I think will be ornamental if they live.
I am sorry I made any puzzle in the names of the competitors
for Nathan Hills’ land &c – Wiles the Baker and John Dale
are to divide what he had between them Drayest & the others
wanted the land without the cow pastures, which would not do.
The small pox has carried off a much more valuable
Man than Nathan Hill since I wrote last. M^r Seaton of
Manthorpe, died of that fatal distemper in February last, I menti-
-oned this in a letter I wrote to Rome the 17^th of March, but not
having heard from you since am rather apprehensive it has
miscarried, M^rs Seaton who he has left in very good

[f.87]

circumstances wishes to continue in the farm which I have
consented to. With regard to William Spreckley, I will do
as well as I can, and if any of his wood-lands are let off
to Toby Brown, I will take care that he is properly tied
up from doing mischief to the trees and thorns. Possibly it
may be a few days after the tenth ins:^t before I get to
Witham as it depends on Madam Ann who I wish to see safe in
her bed before I set out, but this can make no considera-
-ble delay. I mean to lodge the whole of your rents with
Herries, where I dare say they will be very safe, I have paid
into his hands ^L200 more, he sent you his bills for a like
sum to Rome the 29^th of March last. It is I believe Sir Robert
Herries, his name stands so on his door in St James’s Street,
you puzzle me by saying his precepts are signed Rob^t [damaged]
I cannot account for it but by supposing him lately knighted
and that he has not yet altered the firm of his house to
his correspondents abroad. Exton I fear still goes on in
the same careless way, but as his household goods and all his
farming utensils besides his stock are on the premises, I think
we cannot be losers, he has an agreement only for a year.
They now talk of peace here, certainly something of that sort
is in agitation, but nothing yet concluded, nor do I think there
will be. Sir Hugh Palliser is now before a Court Martial, but
as the ministry have contrived matters, he must be acquitted
and as the Court Martial is composed of his principal friends
I suppose it will be with honour. I shall write to
you again from Witham, and in the mean time I am
not without hopes of hearing from you, my sister desires me

[f.87v]

to say she has wrote a great many letters to you which she
hopes you have received – my northern tour is again become
uncertain, as every thing is subject to be that goes not depend on
one’s self, but if we go I will certainly push as far as possible into
Scotland. I fear Charles’s piece of preferment is not so near
at hand as we expected the gentleman now in possession, though

[change of orientation]

A Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson
Chez Mons^r Jean Michel Wagner
a Venise
en
Italie

[change of orientation]


near fourscore and thought by every body to be dying, has most
surprisingly recovered from his indisposition, and appears as hear-
ty as ever, but I hope when he does depart, I shall be able with-
-out some cursed cross accident intervenes to secure his best
Living for Charles. Adieu my dear Brother believe me
most truly your affectionate
R A Johnson

Kenilworth
3^d May 1779

I hope my dear Brother this will reach
you before you leave Venice, though I have delayed writing
rather longer than I intended, from the hurry of moving and
number of things there is always to be done on coming to
a new place. I received your letter of 5^th March from Rome
before we left Bath, and Charles has since received one from
Naples dated the 21^st of the same month. It gives us great
pleasure to find you still continue to be so well amused
with your journey, {^^but} I own I am not sorry to find that
nothing had put old England out of your head, and what
you say in Charles’s letter about returning sooner rather than
we expect you gives me great satisfaction, and most
truly rejoiced shall we be to see you when you get
back again. We have left Bath near three weeks,
we moved our quarters rather earlier than usual
this year on M^rs Johnson’s account, who though in daily ex-
pectation is not yet confined to her bed. She and M^rs
Craven are both very well, and desire to be kindly
remembered to you, the latter hopes you will contrive
to pay us a visit {^^here} when you return to England, though you
was so much hurried we could not have the satisfaction
of seeing you before you sat out. My little folks too
are all very well, the eldest often asks after her uncle

[f.86v]

who is such a great many miles off. We have had a
delightful season, the spring is most uncommonly forward, though
it has been in some measure checked by some rain and cold
winds within this week or ten days, but they have not been
materially prejudicial. It is remarkable that whilst England
Sweden, Denmark and the other northern Kingdoms have
enjoyed the mildest winter that ever was remembered, Italy,
Turkey and the other southern ones have suffered so much from
the uncommon severity of the season. It has been a charming
year for young plantations and I expect to find your’s at
Witham in a most flourishing state. I believe the letter to
Thorne that I wrote from Witham was lost in which I told
you I had planted a few single trees in the fields in front
of the house, Woolley had some spare posts and rails out of
the stuff he bought for fencing the others which I thought
might be as well xx employed, as laid up in the barn, and
the trees I got out of the plantations, there are six or eight
of them, and I think will be ornamental if they live.
I am sorry I made any puzzle in the names of the competitors
for Nathan Hills’ land &c – Wiles the Baker and John Dale
are to divide what he had between them Drayest & the others
wanted the land without the cow pastures, which would not do.
The small pox has carried off a much more valuable
Man than Nathan Hill since I wrote last. M^r Seaton of
Manthorpe, died of that fatal distemper in February last, I menti-
-oned this in a letter I wrote to Rome the 17^th of March, but not
having heard from you since am rather apprehensive it has
miscarried, M^rs Seaton who he has left in very good

[f.87]

circumstances wishes to continue in the farm which I have
consented to. With regard to William Spreckley, I will do
as well as I can, and if any of his wood-lands are let off
to Toby Brown, I will take care that he is properly tied
up from doing mischief to the trees and thorns. Possibly it
may be a few days after the tenth ins:^t before I get to
Witham as it depends on Madam Ann who I wish to see safe in
her bed before I set out, but this can make no considera-
-ble delay. I mean to lodge the whole of your rents with
Herries, where I dare say they will be very safe, I have paid
into his hands ^L200 more, he sent you his bills for a like
sum to Rome the 29^th of March last. It is I believe Sir Robert
Herries, his name stands so on his door in St James’s Street,
you puzzle me by saying his precepts are signed Rob^t [damaged]
I cannot account for it but by supposing him lately knighted
and that he has not yet altered the firm of his house to
his correspondents abroad. Exton I fear still goes on in
the same careless way, but as his household goods and all his
farming utensils besides his stock are on the premises, I think
we cannot be losers, he has an agreement only for a year.
They now talk of peace here, certainly something of that sort
is in agitation, but nothing yet concluded, nor do I think there
will be. Sir Hugh Palliser is now before a Court Martial, but
as the ministry have contrived matters, he must be acquitted
and as the Court Martial is composed of his principal friends
I suppose it will be with honour. I shall write to
you again from Witham, and in the mean time I am
not without hopes of hearing from you, my sister desires me

[f.87v]

to say she has wrote a great many letters to you which she
hopes you have received – my northern tour is again become
uncertain, as every thing is subject to be that goes not depend on
one’s self, but if we go I will certainly push as far as possible into
Scotland. I fear Charles’s piece of preferment is not so near
at hand as we expected the gentleman now in possession, though

[change of orientation]

A Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson
Chez Mons^r Jean Michel Wagner
a Venise
en
Italie

[change of orientation]


near fourscore and thought by every body to be dying, has most
surprisingly recovered from his indisposition, and appears as hear-
ty as ever, but I hope when he does depart, I shall be able with-
-out some cursed cross accident intervenes to secure his best
Living for Charles. Adieu my dear Brother believe me
most truly your affectionate
R A Johnson

Kenilworth
3^d May 1779