[change of orientation]

+ with me in wishing may be speedily. The rest I shall lodge with Child. As I
have not yet made the payments to M^rs Woolley Charles &c I cannot now
give you a more regular account but I will do it in my next which
shall follow this as soon as you give me a fresh direction. Adieu God bless you

[change of orientation]

Witham Hill 23^d May 1779

Dear Brother
I have the pleasure to inform you
that M^rs Johnson was brought to bed of a daughter (whom we have
named Georgiana) about a fortnight {^^ago} and was when I left her on
monday last as well as any body could possibly be in such a
situation, and as I have heard nothing since, conclude every
thing goes on as it should do. I was obliged on her account
to put of your rent day almost a fortnight, for I could not
think of leaving her in so critical a situation till all was well
over and she safe in her bed, but I set out as soon as
I could afterwards and got here on tuesday last. And it is
with great satisfaction that I am able to inform you that
things in general are in good order, and go on as you would
wish. The house is kept very clean and neat, the garden is
in good order, and Arnold promises to continue to keep it so,
The plantation xxx in general look very thriving and
healthy, though I am sorry to say a great number of the
trees you planted the Autumn and spring before you went are
dead, particularly where the road went at the end of the house
the uncommon dryness of the weather for the last twelve months
may in some measure account for the great number that
have failed. I put in a good many laurels and firs in nov:^r
to supply the places of those that were dead near the end of the
house, which do very well, so do the single trees that were
planted in the home close at the same time, though the
Hares have eat off the heads of some of the oaks.
Yesterday was the rest day, and the Tenants in general
paid very well. Caulton, and W Spreckley in part, were the
only defaulters worth speaking of, the former did not pay any
part of his Tythe rent. He would have done it if I had forced him to
it, but he must have sold off so great a disadvantage that

[f.88v]
it probably would been the last payment he ever would have
been able to make, I therefore complied with his earnest intreaty
of letting it remain till the next rent day when he promises to
pay with the utmost punctuality. And I trust you will not think I
did wrong. For he certainly has not too good a bargain of the Tythes,
as wheat is now and has been for some time at 30/- to 34/ a quarter
and wooll got off with difficulty at twelve shillings a Fod. As to
Will^m Spreckley I have no excuse to make, he paid only ^L 40
out of the ^L due for his rent, and has could {^^not} redeem this note of hand
he gave me in November for the price of the carts and waggon. He
still grumbles and complains most grievously, though he owns he has
let off the worst of the land at the price he pays for it, but since his
wife’s death he seems in a disponding way, and has not spirit to do
any thing. He wants to sell the crops off the ground, but this I
have absolutely forbid him to do, though I am not clear that he
will pay any attention to what I have said, as both him and
John Spreckly told me, you made no written agreement with them
and seemed to think themselves at Liberty to do just what they
pleased, the latter has cut and ridded up some very strong Thorns
in Dobbin woodend close, which I understand he ought not to have
done. It was with great difficulty I could get Toby Brown to
sign an agreement himself not to do it, but I made him sign it
at last, it is Homewood lays, and some other grounds that Toby has
taken of W. Spreckley, and not Lady wood which J Spreckly rents
he only rent under spreckley who is still answerable for the whol farm.
If W. Spreckly does not give notice to quit his farm himself which
is not unlikely, I fancy you will find in necessary to get rid
of him as soon as you can, and het a new Tenant, for in his
present way of going on he will neither do you or himself any good.
T. Exton goes on as usual, he is no longer Tenant to the Duke or
M^r Reynardson, and has no farm but the estate we bought, his stock
is supported worth about ^L so we shall probably not be loosers by {^^on}
non payment of his rent for want of distress. But it is hoped that
he will before his situation becomes quite desperate make a bill of
of his effects to Park Exton by which means you will get your

[f.89]

rent and a good Tenant without any trouble. Exton’s rent for his
estate is 50^L including the Tythe, I know it is worth more, but at
that time it was necessary to promise to let him have {^^it} at that easy
rent to induce him to sell, and we entered into an agreement for
on year accordingly. He yet owes nothing but six pound for the
Duke’s Tythe, which he should have paid yesterday; and if he does
not pay his rent next rent day it will be proper to seize
immediately, but I think he will male all over to Park. He has
succeeded his Brother in the Duke’s farm, but seems backward
about taking the Tythes of it, but as Woolley thinks it is only to get
them on easier terms, I have left it to Woolley to settle it with him,
or let them to M^r Nicholls as he finds will answer best.
M^rs Seaton’s Brother assists her in the management of the farm and
will go on very well, they have a barn on the farm which is tumbling
down; Woolly says you once looked at it and told M^r Seaton you
would let him have two or three little sticks of wood to repair it,
and as it is now absolutely necessary to be done, I have told
M^r Woolley to cut down any small things that are proper for that
purpose. Rich^d: Holmes has repaired Susan Sellars’s cottage for his
son in law Allen very thoroughly, he shewed me bills to the amount
of above ^L 20 that he had laid out on the premises, and about ^L
more is still to be done, and he hopes in consideration of this great
expence that you will make him some allowance. I have
had some trouble about the Land Tax since I came here. By some
means or other M^r Goodlad contrived to have himself and Smith
the wheelwright appointed assessors, and {^^they} have made what they call
a land tax on a level, by which means they have eared every
other proprietor and charged you six pounds a year more than
you used to pay. I endeavoured in vain to get them to delay the
alteration till your return, and when I found that would not do
I made myself as much master of the subject as the time would
allow, and attended the meeting of the commssioners, but as I could
not directly say you was charged at a greater rent than what
your estate really brought in, I could obtain no redress. Possibly
on more thoroughly investigating the subject, (which is somewhat

[f.89v]

intricate on account of the Humbts paying seperate for the land and
jointly for the Tythe) you may hit on some expedient to do it, but
as your estate and the whole parish is assessed so very low (only one
shilling and a faction of a farthing in the pound to raise a 4/ levy) it may
be more prudent to make no stir about it. Old Reynardson who I
find is the leading man amongst them, told me this parish is rated
lower than any other parish in the county or any where else that he
every heard of. I have rode round the woods and found the fences
in very good order, and Tom Comey has taken uncommon pains with
the plantation quick, but I am sorry to say it does not grow so well as
it should do. Woolley was obliged to hire Tom to cut it as the

[change of orientation]

a Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson, gentilhomme anglaise
chez Mons:^r Jean Michel Wagner
a Venice
Italie
Receive a 14. Juin

[change of orientation]

I forgot to mention that I have sent a draft for 150^L
to M^r Mabberly – I received your’s from Rome of 16^th Apri
but have not room to answer it. I
hope soon to have a farther direction to you.
Italie

[change of orientation]

Gardener would not do it. Tom complains of the dearness of
the sand hills but says he will not throw it up it is possibly to keep
it. Old Reynardson made a complaint against M^r Cox, for cutting
some thorns that grew on his meer in pease crafts, but I find it was with
little or no reason – your rich of hay is not sold, as it has been as a low
price ever since you went. – I received yesterday about ^L700
including the whole of the Christmas Tythes and for the wood and
last year’s bark. One hundred pounds I mean to pay into S^r Robt
Harries’s hands, which will make the sum including the ^L 200 he now
has and what you have before now I trust got his bills for come to
^L 500, which will probably be as much as you will have occasion for
till you get home again, which every body here heartily joins with X

[change of orientation]

+ with me in wishing may be speedily. The rest I shall lodge with Child. As I
have not yet made the payments to M^rs Woolley Charles &c I cannot now
give you a more regular account but I will do it in my next which
shall follow this as soon as you give me a fresh direction. Adieu God bless you

[change of orientation]

Witham Hill 23^d May 1779

Dear Brother
I have the pleasure to inform you
that M^rs Johnson was brought to bed of a daughter (whom we have
named Georgiana) about a fortnight {^^ago} and was when I left her on
monday last as well as any body could possibly be in such a
situation, and as I have heard nothing since, conclude every
thing goes on as it should do. I was obliged on her account
to put of your rent day almost a fortnight, for I could not
think of leaving her in so critical a situation till all was well
over and she safe in her bed, but I set out as soon as
I could afterwards and got here on tuesday last. And it is
with great satisfaction that I am able to inform you that
things in general are in good order, and go on as you would
wish. The house is kept very clean and neat, the garden is
in good order, and Arnold promises to continue to keep it so,
The plantation xxx in general look very thriving and
healthy, though I am sorry to say a great number of the
trees you planted the Autumn and spring before you went are
dead, particularly where the road went at the end of the house
the uncommon dryness of the weather for the last twelve months
may in some measure account for the great number that
have failed. I put in a good many laurels and firs in nov:^r
to supply the places of those that were dead near the end of the
house, which do very well, so do the single trees that were
planted in the home close at the same time, though the
Hares have eat off the heads of some of the oaks.
Yesterday was the rest day, and the Tenants in general
paid very well. Caulton, and W Spreckley in part, were the
only defaulters worth speaking of, the former did not pay any
part of his Tythe rent. He would have done it if I had forced him to
it, but he must have sold off so great a disadvantage that

[f.88v]
it probably would been the last payment he ever would have
been able to make, I therefore complied with his earnest entreaty
of letting it remain till the next rent day when he promises to
pay with the utmost punctuality. And I trust you will not think I
did wrong. For he certainly has not too good a bargain of the Tythes,
as wheat is now and has been for some time at 30/- to 34/ a quarter
and wool got off with difficulty at twelve shillings a Fod. As to
Will^m Spreckley I have no excuse to make, he paid only ^L 40
out of the ^L due for his rent, and has could {^^not} redeem this note of hand
he gave me in November for the price of the carts and waggon. He
still grumbles and complains most grievously, though he owns he has
let off the worst of the land at the price he pays for it, but since his
wife’s death he seems in a disponding way, and has not spirit to do
any thing. He wants to sell the crops off the ground, but this I
have absolutely forbid him to do, though I am not clear that he
will pay any attention to what I have said, as both him and
John Spreckly told me, you made no written agreement with them
and seemed to think themselves at Liberty to do just what they
pleased, the latter has cut and ridded up some very strong Thorns
in Dobbin woodend close, which I understand he ought not to have
done. It was with great difficulty I could get Toby Brown to
sign an agreement himself not to do it, but I made him sign it
at last, it is Homewood lays, and some other grounds that Toby has
taken of W. Spreckley, and not Lady wood which J Spreckly rents
he only rent under spreckley who is still answerable for the whole farm.
If W. Spreckly does not give notice to quit his farm himself which
is not unlikely, I fancy you will find in necessary to get rid
of him as soon as you can, and het a new Tenant, for in his
present way of going on he will neither do you or himself any good.
T. Exton goes on as usual, he is no longer Tenant to the Duke or
M^r Reynardson, and has no farm but the estate we bought, his stock
is supported worth about ^L so we shall probably not be losers by {^^on}
non payment of his rent for want of distress. But it is hoped that
he will before his situation becomes quite desperate make a bill of
of his effects to Park Exton by which means you will get your

[f.89]

rent and a good Tenant without any trouble. Exton’s rent for his
estate is 50^L including the Tythe, I know it is worth more, but at
that time it was necessary to promise to let him have {^^it} at that easy
rent to induce him to sell, and we entered into an agreement for
on year accordingly. He yet owes nothing but six pound for the
Duke’s Tythe, which he should have paid yesterday; and if he does
not pay his rent next rent day it will be proper to seize
immediately, but I think he will male all over to Park. He has
succeeded his Brother in the Duke’s farm, but seems backward
about taking the Tythes of it, but as Woolley thinks it is only to get
them on easier terms, I have left it to Woolley to settle it with him,
or let them to M^r Nicholls as he finds will answer best.
M^rs Seaton’s Brother assists her in the management of the farm and
will go on very well, they have a barn on the farm which is tumbling
down; Woolly says you once looked at it and told M^r Seaton you
would let him have two or three little sticks of wood to repair it,
and as it is now absolutely necessary to be done, I have told
M^r Woolley to cut down any small things that are proper for that
purpose. Rich^d: Holmes has repaired Susan Sellars’s cottage for his
son in law Allen very thoroughly, he shewed me bills to the amount
of above ^L 20 that he had laid out on the premises, and about ^L
more is still to be done, and he hopes in consideration of this great
expense that you will make him some allowance. I have
had some trouble about the Land Tax since I came here. By some
means or other M^r Goodlad contrived to have himself and Smith
the wheelwright appointed assessors, and {^^they} have made what they call
a land tax on a level, by which means they have eared every
other proprietor and charged you six pounds a year more than
you used to pay. I endeavoured in vain to get them to delay the
alteration till your return, and when I found that would not do
I made myself as much master of the subject as the time would
allow, and attended the meeting of the commissioners, but as I could
not directly say you was charged at a greater rent than what
your estate really brought in, I could obtain no redress. Possibly
on more thoroughly investigating the subject, (which is somewhat

[f.89v]

intricate on account of the Humbts paying separate for the land and
jointly for the Tythe) you may hit on some expedient to do it, but
as your estate and the whole parish is assessed so very low (only one
shilling and a faction of a farthing in the pound to raise a 4/ levy) it may
be more prudent to make no stir about it. Old Reynardson who I
find is the leading man amongst them, told me this parish is rated
lower than any other parish in the county or any where else that he
every heard of. I have rode round the woods and found the fences
in very good order, and Tom Comey has taken uncommon pains with
the plantation quick, but I am sorry to say it does not grow so well as
it should do. Woolley was obliged to hire Tom to cut it as the

[change of orientation]

a Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson, gentilhomme anglaise
chez Mons:^r Jean Michel Wagner
a Venice
Italie
Receive a 14. Juin

[change of orientation]

I forgot to mention that I have sent a draft for 150^L
to M^r Mabberly – I received yours from Rome of 16^th Apri
but have not room to answer it. I
hope soon to have a farther direction to you.
Italie

[change of orientation]

Gardener would not do it. Tom complains of the dearness of
the sand hills but says he will not throw it up it is possibly to keep
it. Old Reynardson made a complaint against M^r Cox, for cutting
some thorns that grew on his meer in pease crafts, but I find it was with
little or no reason – your rich of hay is not sold, as it has been as a low
price ever since you went. – I received yesterday about ^L700
including the whole of the Christmas Tythes and for the wood and
last year’s bark. One hundred pounds I mean to pay into S^r Robt
Harries’s hands, which will make the sum including the ^L 200 he now
has and what you have before now I trust got his bills for come to
^L 500, which will probably be as much as you will have occasion for
till you get home again, which every body here heartily joins with X