Sir,

We returned yesterday night, having dined with Mr {?Dealtry} in our way home from Stillington ---- I know of no impediment, at present, to the pleasure of seeing you here on Monday or Tuesday morning next after eleven ----------- In my excursion, I stumbled on an antiquated {?stiff-rump’d} Counsellor, who had left off practice or practice had deserted him ----- in the course of conversation, my ill-fated lawsuit became one of the topics -------- “Sir,” says this son of {?Themis} to me, “your case lies in a narrow compassion Prey how long is it since the private road from York to Easingwold was converted into a turnpike road?” I believe Sir, I replied, between forty and fifty years ----- “Then Sir,” continued the Counsellor, “at whose expence was the present carriage bridge erected, and by whom has it, since that event, been

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occasionally repaired?” ------I fear Sir said I with a faultering voice, the Defendants have saddled themselves with that burden ------ “If so, Sir,” replied this {?h??tor} of the law, “you or your predeccessors originally put the saddle on the wrong horse. Therefore, take my word, or opinion, if you like it better, you will be adjudged to wear forever this token of your indiscretion; for I wou’d not give a fig for your Cause” ---- at the same time drinking my health and success in a {?bumper} of Port ----- This discourse luckily took place after dinner, or it wou’d have spoiled my appetite; but it disorder’d concoction, and has generated a succession of melancholy dreams-----

I am, Sir,

yours very sincerely,

G Earle

Beningbrough Hall

July 6th 1804

P.S ---- Be so kind to buy a two ounce phial of volatile {foetid} spirit, at Mr Wallis’s the Chemist, and bring it with you ---- Please to pay for it --------

Sir,

We returned yesterday night, having dined with Mr {?Dealtry} in our way home from Stillington ---- I know of no impediment, at present, to the pleasure of seeing you here on Monday or Tuesday morning next after eleven ----------- In my excursion, I stumbled on an antiquated {?stiff-rump’d} Counsellor, who had left off practice or practice had deserted him ----- in the course of conversation, my ill-fated lawsuit became one of the topics -------- “Sir,” says this son of {?Themis} to me, “your case lies in a narrow compassion Prey how long is it since the private road from York to Easingwold was converted into a turnpike road?” I believe Sir, I replied, between forty and fifty years ----- “Then Sir,” continued the Counsellor, “at whose expense was the present carriage bridge erected, and by whom has it, since that event, been

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occasionally repaired?” ------I fear Sir said I with a faltering voice, the Defendants have saddled themselves with that burden ------ “If so, Sir,” replied this {?h??tor} of the law, “you or your predecessors originally put the saddle on the wrong horse. Therefore, take my word, or opinion, if you like it better, you will be adjudged to wear forever this token of your indiscretion; for I wou’d not give a fig for your Cause” ---- at the same time drinking my health and success in a {?bumper} of Port ----- This discourse luckily took place after dinner, or it wou’d have spoiled my appetite; but it disordered concoction, and has generated a succession of melancholy dreams-----

I am, Sir,

yours very sincerely,

G Earle

Beningbrough Hall

July 6th 1804

P.S ---- Be so kind to buy a two ounce phial of volatile {foetid} spirit, at Mr Wallis’s the Chemist, and bring it with you ---- Please to pay for it --------