Longsdon Nov 29th 1799
My dear William
Your letter gave me very great pleasure
& your Papa thinks it very well written. I thank you for it.
We are very glad to hear by Mr Smibson that you and
your Brothers are well. I sincerely hope you will all conti=
=nue so, & that we shall have {^the} happiness of seeing you at Exms in good spirits -- I hope you are not in
want of any thing, before the time of your coming home,
if you are pray let me know? Your Cousin Mary
Gardorn is here, she unites with your Sisters in Love
to you all, and her Brother Tho[mas]. My affectionate Love
to your Brothers, and respectful Comp[liments] to Mr Ashbridge
I am my dear William very sincerely yours
E. Longsdon

[change hand]
James John William Longsdon
My Dear Children -
I feel
very happy in hearing you are well & hope you

are all good boys and mind your Books and
Mr Ashbridges instructions. I have to inform
James that I have sold his Heifer with two others
she was valued at £12 it is less than I expectd
but the [illeg] [illeg] of the Summer has been greatly
against [illeg] Cattle, especially the [illeg] [illeg].
Now we have, thank God, fine weather and the latter
part of my Cattle are likely to turn out better than I
some time since expectd. If the Weather continues
fine I think of taking a ride to see you before the
Holidays but I cannot speak possitively. We had
a very pleasant meeting at [illeg], should [illeg]
like another, write me a letter and tell me and other
matters that occur to you. Has Mr [illeg] {?thrashed}
his Wheat, now Corn is so very dear he will be
pleasd that he [illeg] the Field, if he did but
got it well. You must look about if you cannot
find out a nice Barren low or two for the next
season, or a pair or two of good Bullocks that
have had some Turnips. I desire my way [illeg]
[illeg] [illeg] I am dear Children your
affectionate Father Ja' Longsdon

Master Longsdon
at the Rev Mr Ashbridge
Heath -