Combe Abbey Sunday
12^th Sept^r. 1779

I fear by my not having heard
from you my dear Brother, that the letter I
wrote to you at the Royal Hotel has not
reached {^^you} though I sent it to the post the day
I received your two last from Spa & London
which came by the same post. I most
heartily congratulate you on your return
to old England again, and I hope in a few
days weeks to be able to do it in person,
but at present we are engaged in the business
of inoculating our three eldest children,
which prevents my accepting your kind in-
vitation to Witham, so early as my inclination
would lead me to do. – Lord Craven has been
so kind to lend us this house on the occasion
which is a charming place for the purpose
as there is such ample room for them to
run about in. – I told you in my last

[f.92v]

that if you wished it I would send you your
account, and the lives of the painters which I
borrow’d when I was last at Witham, by the London
waggons, or if you do not want them immediately
will to wait and bring them with me when I
come. We will then if you please too, finally
settle the business of Exton’s estate, and in the
mean time M^r Torkington who is acquainted
with every particular, will give you the
best directions how you ought to proceed with
Exton. I have been a good deal distressed
for money, by having advanced more on Exton’s
purchase than I have received, but I am in daily
expectations of being set right in that particular
by receiving ^L 1300 from Lord Craven for which
purpose I executed the writings some little time
ago. I have now of your’s a balance of something
more than ^L300 which I trust xxx will be

[f.93]

ready for you before you can possibly want it,
I mean this exclusive of the ^L200 in Sir Rob^t Norrie’s
hands – you will learn from Woolley the
state of the deficiencies at the last rent day,
I have given you in some measure the reason
of then in the letters I wrote to Venice & Vienna
Caulton’s & J – Spreckleys are the most mater[damaged]
the former is to be pitied from the hard tr[damaged]
he meets with from his other Landlord, th[damaged]
is a sulky fellow that you can never do
any good with, Pray tell Charles I
have received his letter and will thank him
for it soon. We are all vastly well and
in good spirits as the operation has not yet
been performed, nor is it to be of some days, as
we are advised to wait a little after changing
the air for fear of their having previously taken
the infection. I shall hope to hear from you
soon, adieu my dear Bro.^r I am truly yours RA Johnson

[f.93v]

M^rs Craven & M^rs Johnson desire their best wishes to you
and Charles, if you have the slightest wish to see your
accounts pray be so kind as to say so, as it is wrote
out at Kenilworth and it will not be the least trouble
to me to send it.

[change of orientation]

G.W. Johnson Esq^r
Witham Hill
In all Stamford,
Lincolnshire

Combe Abbey Sunday
12^th Sept^r. 1779

I fear by my not having heard
from you my dear Brother, that the letter I
wrote to you at the Royal Hotel has not
reached {^^you} though I sent it to the post the day
I received your two last from Spa & London
which came by the same post. I most
heartily congratulate you on your return
to old England again, and I hope in a few
days weeks to be able to do it in person,
but at present we are engaged in the business
of inoculating our three eldest children,
which prevents my accepting your kind in-
vitation to Witham, so early as my inclination
would lead me to do. – Lord Craven has been
so kind to lend us this house on the occasion
which is a charming place for the purpose
as there is such ample room for them to
run about in. – I told you in my last

[f.92v]

that if you wished it I would send you your
account, and the lives of the painters which I
borrowed when I was last at Witham, by the London
waggons, or if you do not want them immediately
will to wait and bring them with me when I
come. We will then if you please too, finally
settle the business of Exton’s estate, and in the
mean time M^r Torkington who is acquainted
with every particular, will give you the
best directions how you ought to proceed with
Exton. I have been a good deal distressed
for money, by having advanced more on Exton’s
purchase than I have received, but I am in daily
expectations of being set right in that particular
by receiving ^L 1300 from Lord Craven for which
purpose I executed the writings some little time
ago. I have now of yours a balance of something
more than ^L300 which I trust xxx will be

[f.93]

ready for you before you can possibly want it,
I mean this exclusive of the ^L200 in Sir Rob^t Norrie’s
hands – you will learn from Woolley the
state of the deficiencies at the last rent day,
I have given you in some measure the reason
of then in the letters I wrote to Venice & Vienna
Caulton’s & J – Spreckleys are the most mater[damaged]
the former is to be pitied from the hard tr[damaged]
he meets with from his other Landlord, th[damaged]
is a sulky fellow that you can never do
any good with, Pray tell Charles I
have received his letter and will thank him
for it soon. We are all vastly well and
in good spirits as the operation has not yet
been performed, nor is it to be of some days, as
we are advised to wait a little after changing
the air for fear of their having previously taken
the infection. I shall hope to hear from you
soon, adieu my dear Bro.^r I am truly yours RA Johnson

[f.93v]

M^rs Craven & M^rs Johnson desire their best wishes to you
and Charles, if you have the slightest wish to see your
accounts pray be so kind as to say so, as it is wrote
out at Kenilworth and it will not be the least trouble
to me to send it.

[change of orientation]

G.W. Johnson Esq^r
Witham Hill
In all Stamford,
Lincolnshire