Berkley Square,
Saturday
Dear Brother
Pray don’t fancy I have been
idle because you have not heard from me sooner,
for indeed I have not, but the truth of the matter
is Elmsley was not return’d from France and Paynes
catalogue was not out, so I found it impossible to
execute any part of your book commission, but I hope
now in a very short time to let you have at least
the greatest part of what you want. Some of the scarce
articles you want are in Paynes sale so if they
are not too extravagant you shall have them, at the
same time I mean to send his catalogue which
will enable you to fix on any other books you
wish to have, which I must beg you to do, for my
being entirely unacquainted with the Italien Language
puts it absolutely out of my power to find out
the books that would suit you. There is to be
two great book auctions this winter, the late M^r
West’s, and a M^r Smyth’s a late consul at Venice
which is supposed to run chiefly {^^{on the} } valuable Italien

[f.44v]

authors I will take care you shall have catalogues of them
and if I am in Town at when they are sold I will attend
and get you any of the books you wish to have, and if
I am not I will get Elmsley to do it for me, - you will
see by Paynes catalogue how very much cheaper you get
books by buying them in that way than out of a
common bookseller’s shop. I don’t know what you paid
for the Crusea dictionary but I see has one copy of
it at £4.4 another at £5.5 and the best edition
with stain’d binding at six guineas. you Elmsley charges
two pound five for your Montaigne’s essays, in Payne’s sale
there is two copies of the same book well bound at
eighteen shillings, and another magnificently bound in
Morroes at £1.16 – you may judge by these two articles
what an amazing difference it makes – I have got
you a pair of knee buckles, the tongues and anchors
seem good, tho’ they are not very fine, but I thought
it better to buy these for one shilling than to give
four for another pair that seem’d to have no other
merit than being more highly polish’d. They shall
come with the first parcel of books which I hope
you will have this day sennight, but you shall
have timely notice when you are to expect them.
I call’d on m^r Maberly the other day and received

[f.45]

the money you was so good to lend me, it sold for
£87.17.6 for which I gave him a receipt. I am very
much obliged to you for this and for every other
instance of the friendly affection with which you
have ever treated me: I only wish my dear Brother
I may ever have it in my power to convince you
how truly sensible I am of the many obligations I
owe you. I was in hopes to have been no farther
troublesome to you, but I am now apprehensive I must
beg you to undertake an office that I fear you will
not think a very agreeable one, however it is not y[et]
certain that it will be necessary. You know I [damaged]
you M^rs Taylor did not intend having any settlement, but [damaged]
her last letter she says from something that has passed she
fancies L^d Craven would not think it proper for her to
marry without one, however this is not yet certain,
but in case he {^^should} insist upon it, I must beg you my dear
Brother to be my trustee, as it is an office no other person
could execute with so much propriety, and I fancy it
will be attended with no farther trouble than obliging
you to make a journey to London at the time the
articles are sign’d. Of course I shall {^^have} a part of her
fortune unsettled to clear off old scores, and set us out
in the world, so it will make little difference to me
in that respect. I dined yester Thursday with
Anthony Lucas, who enquired much after you. Calcraft’s
Widow

[f.45v]

M^r Wodhull went out of Town on Wednesday, so at present I
keep house by myself. Adieu my dear Brother, I hope to
have the pleasure of hearing from you soon, you will let me
know when you think the weather cold enough for oysters. And
if there is any thing else you want from London I hope you
will not scruple to employ me. Most affectionately am I yours
R. A. Johnson


[change of orientation]

To George W^m Johnson Esq^r
Witham Hill
near Stamford
Lincolnshire

[change of orientation]

not thinking the allowance his executors were willing to make
her sufficient has thrown his affairs into chancery to try what
she can get. I saw M^rs Vere the other morning who look’s as
gay and blooming as ever. – my love to Charles tell him
I will write to him soon, I hope he continues stout and
hearty. M^r Maberly had given me a copy of the award
which you shall have with the first parcel of books.

Berkley Square,
Saturday
Dear Brother
Pray don’t fancy I have been
idle because you have not heard from me sooner,
for indeed I have not, but the truth of the matter
is Elmsley was not returned from France and Paynes
catalogue was not out, so I found it impossible to
execute any part of your book commission, but I hope
now in a very short time to let you have at least
the greatest part of what you want. Some of the scarce
articles you want are in Paynes sale so if they
are not too extravagant you shall have them, at the
same time I mean to send his catalogue which
will enable you to fix on any other books you
wish to have, which I must beg you to do, for my
being entirely unacquainted with the Italian Language
puts it absolutely out of my power to find out
the books that would suit you. There is to be
two great book auctions this winter, the late M^r
West’s, and a M^r Smyth’s a late consul at Venice
which is supposed to run chiefly {^^{on the} } valuable Italian

[f.44v]

authors I will take care you shall have catalogues of them
and if I am in Town at when they are sold I will attend
and get you any of the books you wish to have, and if
I am not I will get Elmsley to do it for me, - you will
see by Paynes catalogue how very much cheaper you get
books by buying them in that way than out of a
common bookseller’s shop. I don’t know what you paid
for the Crusea dictionary but I see has one copy of
it at £4.4 another at £5.5 and the best edition
with stained binding at six guineas. you Elmsley charges
two pound five for your Montaigne’s essays, in Payne’s sale
there is two copies of the same book well bound at
eighteen shillings, and another magnificently bound in
Morroes at £1.16 – you may judge by these two articles
what an amazing difference it makes – I have got
you a pair of knee buckles, the tongues and anchors
seem good, though they are not very fine, but I thought
it better to buy these for one shilling than to give
four for another pair that seemed to have no other
merit than being more highly polished. They shall
come with the first parcel of books which I hope
you will have this day sennight, but you shall
have timely notice when you are to expect them.
I called on m^r Maberly the other day and received

[f.45]

the money you was so good to lend me, it sold for
£87.17.6 for which I gave him a receipt. I am very
much obliged to you for this and for every other
instance of the friendly affection with which you
have ever treated me: I only wish my dear Brother
I may ever have it in my power to convince you
how truly sensible I am of the many obligations I
owe you. I was in hopes to have been no farther
troublesome to you, but I am now apprehensive I must
beg you to undertake an office that I fear you will
not think a very agreeable one, however it is not y[et]
certain that it will be necessary. You know I [damaged]
you M^rs Taylor did not intend having any settlement, but [damaged]
her last letter she says from something that has passed she
fancies L^d Craven would not think it proper for her to
marry without one, however this is not yet certain,
but in case he {^^should} insist upon it, I must beg you my dear
Brother to be my trustee, as it is an office no other person
could execute with so much propriety, and I fancy it
will be attended with no farther trouble than obliging
you to make a journey to London at the time the
articles are signed. Of course I shall {^^have} a part of her
fortune unsettled to clear off old scores, and set us out
in the world, so it will make little difference to me
in that respect. I dined yester Thursday with
Anthony Lucas, who enquired much after you. Calcraft’s
Widow

[f.45v]

M^r Wodhull went out of Town on Wednesday, so at present I
keep house by myself. Adieu my dear Brother, I hope to
have the pleasure of hearing from you soon, you will let me
know when you think the weather cold enough for oysters. And
if there is any thing else you want from London I hope you
will not scruple to employ me. Most affectionately am I yours
R. A. Johnson


[change of orientation]

To George W^m Johnson Esq^r
Witham Hill
near Stamford
Lincolnshire

[change of orientation]

not thinking the allowance his executors were willing to make
her sufficient has thrown his affairs into chancery to try what
she can get. I saw M^rs Vere the other morning who look’s as
gay and blooming as ever. – my love to Charles tell him
I will write to him soon, I hope he continues stout and
hearty. M^r Maberly had given me a copy of the award
which you shall have with the first parcel of books.