Dear Sir
The following is the state of my plan of life for some little time to come, which I send you before-hand, lest, for want of your knowing it, we shou’d play at cross-purposes either by letters or visits ----
Tomorrow I dine with M^r Richard Thompson at Moat-Hall, and return to my burrow at night ----
On thursday next, we perform a ceremony of the same kind at M^r Miles Stapleton’s in York, and I lay my account with coming home at midnight ------ I cou’d as soon have believed in transubstantiation, as that, with my bundle of infirmities on my back, I shou’d have given into such an extravagance ----- Let me have your prayers; and I entreat also those of the Roman Catholic congregation in Blake Street-----
[new page]
and because I cannot be staring without being stark mad, I have invited myself to pass from Tuesday the 8^th to Friday 11^th of July between Stillington hall and Tatton Hall; but as yet, these two engagements are in hope rather than in {?esse}-------
I know you have heard from Mr Carbonell touching the shipping my Madeira at London ---- So have I------ Its arrival at York depends on powers above your control or mine --- I am as easy as an old glove about it, being something in the condition of the Irishman, who, being waked at Midnight and told the House was on fire, replied “Well! What’s that to me, I am only a lodger,” and went to sleep again ---- So, my Madeira is ensured ----- But I cannot sleep, like him, for the life of me ------ I am turned sportsman again, having shot two brace and a half of black {?hebb’d} Crow
[new page]
I did not indeed shut the stable-door till the Steed was stolen, for they had carried off six out of twelve chickens ---- M^rs Whitwell is too busy in dressing our dinners, and {?bedigening} her person, to attend to such minutie ---------
Believe me, Dear Sir,
much & sincerely yours, G Earle
Beningbrough Hall------
June 20^th 1806 -----
P.S. my health hangs, like Mahomet’s coffin, between heaven and earth, with a preponderancy rather to earth, but I hope to escape both [damaged] being on the turff and under it this year --------

Dear Sir
The following is the state of my plan of life for some little time to come, which I send you before-hand, lest, for want of your knowing it, we shou’d play at cross-purposes either by letters or visits ----
Tomorrow I dine with M^r Richard Thompson at Moat-Hall, and return to my burrow at night ----
On thursday next, we perform a ceremony of the same kind at M^r Miles Stapleton’s in York, and I lay my account with coming home at midnight ------ I cou’d as soon have believed in transubstantiation, as that, with my bundle of infirmities on my back, I shou’d have given into such an extravagance ----- Let me have your prayers; and I entreat also those of the Roman Catholic congregation in Blake Street-----
[new page]
and because I cannot be staring without being stark mad, I have invited myself to pass from Tuesday the 8^th to Friday 11^th of July between Stillington hall and Tatton Hall; but as yet, these two engagements are in hope rather than in {?esse}-------
I know you have heard from Mr Carbonell touching the shipping my Madeira at London ---- So have I------ Its arrival at York depends on powers above your control or mine --- I am as easy as an old glove about it, being something in the condition of the Irishman, who, being waked at Midnight and told the House was on fire, replied “Well! What’s that to me, I am only a lodger,” and went to sleep again ---- So, my Madeira is ensured ----- But I cannot sleep, like him, for the life of me ------ I am turned sportsman again, having shot two brace and a half of black {?hebb’d} Crow
[new page]
I did not indeed shut the stable-door till the Steed was stolen, for they had carried off six out of twelve chickens ---- M^rs Whitwell is too busy in dressing our dinners, and {?bedigening} her person, to attend to such minutie ---------
Believe me, Dear Sir,
much & sincerely yours, G Earle
Beningbrough Hall------
June 20^th 1806 -----
P.S. my health hangs, like Mahomet’s coffin, between heaven and earth, with a preponderancy rather to earth, but I hope to escape both [damaged] being on the turff and under it this year --------