My warmest thanks are due to you
my dear Brother for the very kind and friendly reception you
gave me at Witham, which believe me I quitted with
regret. I was much obliged to you for accompanying me
so far as Cottingham after we parted I found myself
obliged notwithstanding every enquiry I could make to
pursue the beaten track to Dingley, and when there,
the new enclosures as was before the case would have
thrown me so far out of the line that I found it
expedient to go through Harbro’ to Lutterworth, which
place I reached with ease, about the same time
probably that you got to Witham; and with an appetite
prepared to dispatch any thing that was set before
me. I got home before dinner the next day and
had the satisfaction of finding every body very well.
I conclude the Doctor is at Datchworth by this
time & busily employed in letting the tythes and
settling his other business, I learnt from a person here

[f.106v]

who is conversant in those matters that its being custom-
-ary to tythe turnips in that country or not may a
good deal effect the value of the living, this matter
has been contested two or three times and the Courts
have always given it in favor of the Rectors. I heartily
hope Charles may settle all his matters perfectly to
his satisfaction, and be able to accompany you to the
continent without having any anxiety upon his mind
about what is going on in Hertfordshire.
I am informed by M^r Wheler that all kinds of Records
and Registers are kept with much greater exactness at
Paris than with us, & he makes no doubt but by
enquiring at the proper office you may easily
procure a certificate of Robert Plumerden’s death &
perhaps be able to learn that he died single and intestate
as there is reason to believe he was an Eclesiastic.
Robert Plumerden was born in 1664 and was living
at Paris in 1749, where he had resided thirty years or
more. I shall be greatly obliged to you if you can
procure me an authentic certificate of his death, and
of any circumstances that tend to prove he was unmarried
and did not make a Will, for if I can once establish

[f.107]

these points M^rs Whelers tells me I shall be able to
make a good saleable title to the Kentish farms. I
am sorry I am not able to direct you to the proper
office to make enquiries, but suppose your Laquais
de louage, or any man of business will readily give
you the necessary information. I am concerned to give
you so much trouble, when you are at a place
where you can so much more agreeably employ your
time, but I have too often experienced your readiness
to oblige me, to suffer me to doubt your being
kind to understate to do so on the present occasio[damaged]
I heartily wish you a pleasant jaunt and that you
may find Bourdeaux an agreeable residence, I trust you
will be so kind to let me hear from you sometimes
which I assure you will give me the greatest pleasure.
Our Conversation here is a good deal taken up here
by the seperation that has taken place between M^r
& M^rs Lewis, they seem to have early become heartily
tired of one another {^^{earlier than people generally do}} for they have not been married
a year and are seriously parted for ever. He is come
to England and she remains with her Father & Lady Bridgeman
at Paris. M^rs Craven and M<sup>rs Johnson desire their best
respects and heartily join in wishing you a pleasant tour.

[f.107v]

Adieu my dear Brother. Believe me with the greatest
regard your sincere friend
and very affectionate Brother
RA Johnson
5th May

[change of orientation]

GW Johnson Esqr
Witham on the Hill
Stamford
Lincolnshire

[change of orientation]

No 9355 30L Mr ab. nu.
land 3 may 85. Tho’ Thompson
GSSouth

[change of orientation]

No 252 20L Mr E James
24th Dec. 82 Lander
Ritmart.

[change of orientation]

P.S. I find by a letter from Robt Plumenden in 1722. That he
then lodged with a Mons:r Maurice a Boncour proele Saint Etienne
de Mont a Paris. And in another letter dated {^Paris} 1740. Robert
Plumerden says, it has been of late a very sickly time on
the Fofsee therefore I do not stir out. From which I conclude
he then resided in some street or district so named.</sup>

My warmest thanks are due to you
my dear Brother for the very kind and friendly reception you
gave me at Witham, which believe me I quitted with
regret. I was much obliged to you for accompanying me
so far as Cottingham after we parted I found myself
obliged notwithstanding every enquiry I could make to
pursue the beaten track to Dingley, and when there,
the new enclosures as was before the case would have
thrown me so far out of the line that I found it
expedient to go through Harbro’ to Lutterworth, which
place I reached with ease, about the same time
probably that you got to Witham; and with an appetite
prepared to dispatch any thing that was set before
me. I got home before dinner the next day and
had the satisfaction of finding every body very well.
I conclude the Doctor is at Datchworth by this
time & busily employed in letting the tythes and
settling his other business, I learnt from a person here

[f.106v]

who is conversant in those matters that its being custom-
-ary to tythe turnips in that country or not may a
good deal effect the value of the living, this matter
has been contested two or three times and the Courts
have always given it in favour of the Rectors. I heartily
hope Charles may settle all his matters perfectly to
his satisfaction, and be able to accompany you to the
continent without having any anxiety upon his mind
about what is going on in Hertfordshire.
I am informed by M^r Wheler that all kinds of Records
and Registers are kept with much greater exactness at
Paris than with us, & he makes no doubt but by
enquiring at the proper office you may easily
procure a certificate of Robert Plumerden’s death &
perhaps be able to learn that he died single and intestate
as there is reason to believe he was an Eclesiastic.
Robert Plumerden was born in 1664 and was living
at Paris in 1749, where he had resided thirty years or
more. I shall be greatly obliged to you if you can
procure me an authentic certificate of his death, and
of any circumstances that tend to prove he was unmarried
and did not make a Will, for if I can once establish

[f.107]

these points M^rs Whelers tells me I shall be able to
make a good saleable title to the Kentish farms. I
am sorry I am not able to direct you to the proper
office to make enquiries, but suppose your Laquais
de louage, or any man of business will readily give
you the necessary information. I am concerned to give
you so much trouble, when you are at a place
where you can so much more agreeably employ your
time, but I have too often experienced your readiness
to oblige me, to suffer me to doubt your being
kind to understate to do so on the present occasio[damaged]
I heartily wish you a pleasant jaunt and that you
may find Bourdeaux an agreeable residence, I trust you
will be so kind to let me hear from you sometimes
which I assure you will give me the greatest pleasure.
Our Conversation here is a good deal taken up here
by the seperation that has taken place between M^r
& M^rs Lewis, they seem to have early become heartily
tired of one another {^^{earlier than people generally do}} for they have not been married
a year and are seriously parted for ever. He is come
to England and she remains with her Father & Lady Bridgeman
at Paris. M^rs Craven and M<sup>rs Johnson desire their best
respects and heartily join in wishing you a pleasant tour.

[f.107v]

Adieu my dear Brother. Believe me with the greatest
regard your sincere friend
and very affectionate Brother
RA Johnson
5th May

[change of orientation]

GW Johnson Esqr
Witham on the Hill
Stamford
Lincolnshire

[change of orientation]

No 9355 30L Mr ab. nu.
land 3 may 85. Tho’ Thompson
GSSouth

[change of orientation]

No 252 20L Mr E James
24th Dec. 82 Lander
Ritmart.

[change of orientation]

P.S. I find by a letter from Robt Plumenden in 1722. That he
then lodged with a Mons:r Maurice a Boncour proele Saint Etienne
de Mont a Paris. And in another letter dated {^Paris} 1740. Robert
Plumerden says, it has been of late a very sickly time on
the Fofsee therefore I do not stir out. From which I conclude
he then resided in some street or district so named.</sup>