Saturday [?Ma] 6 [illeg]
Dear Richard,
Inclosed I send you one £10 Bank
Post Bill [illeg] to write like a man of
Business and when I can get the cloaths will remit them
with an almanac in the pocket, which I forgot in the last parcel.
I hope you will rec'd the [?seeds] as they were to
be sent last Friday - the [?seal] shall not be forgot.
Was the [illeg] acceptable? - I thought it would, as you have
more occasion for planning that I have, and it saves you
the appearance of walking with a hoe in your hand.
I omitted a verse in the Crazy Lines, which you may
add if you think proper, after the first verse,

I'll prove the Case, as Parsons do,
(Although, I cannot say I'm fond and)
When they convince you things are true;
By being Querist and Respondent.

You see I am not to be talked out of scribbling verses
but it is an itch, and like the other breaks out when
you least expect it - with this difference,

the one is cured by Mercury, the other made worse by it.

This puts me in mind of Love - can you find in
your sober soul to love a good woman of my recommendation? Well then, I will for once attempt the business, and I desire
you to take notice, it is more that I would do for any
body else. But you will be jealous, and say, why not
marry her yourself? When ever it comes to that I will give
you my plain reason - but if you meddle when I intend,
by the fury of a Lover! I shall play the devil with you.
I hear of, and see pretty women every day,
Mais cela ne vous pas fait - and a day or two ago
wrote a most lively letter to a beautiful widow, whom
every body is dying for, and who is going to be innoculated
for the Small Pox - tho I never saw her, nor perhaps ever
shall, Tant mieux, pour moi!
I am got lately into much grace, favor, and employment
by painting ribbons - I am afraid it will turn
out such an other affair as the pentagraph however I will
paint one more set for [illeg] and send them soon. Try if
you cannot give me a good thought to turn into because on such

an occasion - I am more a puppy then ever
and I believe it is owing to my acquaintance with a
Mr [?Highmore], a son of my old drawing master
who is lately come from abroad, and is introduced into
our office. He caught a slight itch of scribbling
in the west Indies [illeg] years ago, and is now deemed
incurable. Pray to heaven to deliver you from this
scourge tho, when you say, deliver me from evil, you
will do the same.
You say so many kind things I know not how to return
[illeg], but if I have so much Christianity about me [illeg]
so much owing to your example and conversation, as
good qualities of my own - indeed I love to try myself
in this way, and when I cannot do good to an enemy, I
shall think myself a bad man.
I met Mr [?Balcheno] and Mr [?Tapps] the other day. They have got a new [?ho.] at Newington, Mary is better. The little girl is innoculated.
Dined with [?Wm. Mole] Thursday, like her better [illeg]
tomorrow [?Mr Long] told me yesterday his son is preparing to come down to you, which I suppose you know by this. Have not seen Mr [illeg] this morning [illeg]
Adieu and believe me your real friend. G Cumberland
[illeg] greet my mother [illeg]

A cotton nightcap

Revd Cumberland
[?Driffelde] near
Cirencester
Gloucestershire