Fetcham Wedn y: Aug . 21. 1776.

Alas, poor Sam. why mopest thou? I for my part

have-done moping. Q.S.P. is perfectly well satisfied

with the letter I transcribed for you: and they both

join in telling me that considering what

mine was to her, it is full as much as I had

reason to hope for.

Yes, thou must come down hither. I will tell you how

we have settled it. Wilson is very desirous of taking

another farewell of his friend Mercer. I am now fit

to wean: I want no more nursing. He was half resolved

therefore at any rate to have gone to London

in a few days for about a week. When I was in

town last M rs L. was pulling me to pieces to go down

to them at Mill Hill on Saturday to help keep M r

L's birthday. Go therefore I will: and for that purpose

I will be in town on Friday. Wilson will go to town

the same day. I shall return be back from Mill Hill on Sunday

morning. Do thou meet me in town: and on Monday

we will come together to this place. You will then occupy

Wilson's bed. We will upon that consideration

give him leave to stay in town for a few days. It would

certainly be better if we could be all three together all the

time. However, part of the time you are here we will: &

for that part we must make shift for lodging some how

or some how.

Q.S.P. will be here on Friday morning to breakfast &

to fetch home a Hawk I have got for them. When they set

off on their return I shall set off for Town. I was over

at Ri hm n.. Park on Monday. My Father drank your health

by the name of "poor Sam". This I knew not how to account for.

He did not tell me of his having heard from you.

Write to me in London

by return of the post. I shall

by that means have your letter on Saturday.

Oh but then I

shall be at

Mill hill

so I should

not receive it till the time you might come yourself.

However if a letter would come sooner

than you, write.

The spirit of pillapheries hath come strong

upon Wilson. His words are like the words of the wise

man, full of grace and truth. When my kingdom cometh lo! even then shall he sit upon my right

hand. Thou mayest think thyself well off to sit on his lap. Unless thou preferrest to snuggle in Abraham's bos
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  • Title: [Leatherhead Tuesd: y Sept. 18. 1776]
    Description: Leatherhead Tuesd: y Sept. 18. 1776

    Wilson is come to town, my dear Sam, and I,

    poor I, am left alone. He does not return till Saturday.

    I must have thee or somebody to keep me from hanging

    myself. I did expect Lind, but he does not come.

    Thou must therefore play truant from Richm.

    Park at least for tomorrow and next day and part of Saturday.

    Shirt and Stockings thou needest not trouble thyself about

    Th ou shall have mine. Thou might'st be with me at

    Breakfast if thou beest good for any thing. He that

    can walk 20 miles, a fortiori can walk 1.3.

    There is no such thing as my getting to Richm d

    Park. Thither and back again in a day is too far

    to walk while the roads are in such condition. My

    Mare is under the Doct: r's hands - stuffed with Riwel

    and fed with pissing-balls - excuse me - so the

    D r is pleased to call them. The Farrier tells me I may

    use her again on Friday. But Monday is as soon as I

    can want her.

    It is possible Lind may come on Friday - if so,

    off you pack. Indeed in case of very bad weather we

    might manage your staying, so as not to turn you out

    to drown.

    Duty to my Father. I have nothing particular to say

    to him at present — Oh. yes - I have — Yesterday I was

    again unfortunate. Rose and Forbes did not come — The

    extreme bad weather indeed sufficiently accounts for it.

    We scarce expected them.

    "In Poland every thing seems to favour the King. They

    "talk of the throne being declared hereditary. Diets abolished,

    "and giving him an Arch Dutchess to Wife." Thus saith Lind in a

    letter I have just this instant received. I write now by Wilson's means. We are at

    Breakfast at the Swan.
  • Title: [Thank you heartily for your Polish news]
    Description: Thank you heartily for your Polish news — It gives me the most pleasing prospects — I long to talk it over with you — I don't believe it signifies any thing my sending duty to my Mistress — I would venture a small wager you have not dared to show her either of my former letters, for fear she should haze you to let her come.

    Fetcham Wedn. y 18 th 1776 or rather Leatherhead — where I have been breakfasting with Wilson in his way to Town. I write from the Swan, which ought to afford a man a better quill than this miserable stick —

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  • Title: [Ay, do my dear Sam, come up - on Friday as]
    Description: Ay, do my dear Sam, come up - on Friday as

    thou sayest — I shall be glad to see thee

    A very good opportunity of learning Watchmaking has

    presented itself to me - and I shall probably have

    availed myself of it before you come - R. King

    at G. Coffee-House is a Watchmaker by Trade, and

    has some Watch "motions" by him which he has

    engaged to take to pieces for my instruction — The D r

    referred me to him — ' He himself [viz: the D r] could

    not undertake the Job - And when you come up

    may very likely take a lecture together

    Shall I tell thee —? Yes verily I will — There is

    to be a Board of Longitude I understand, on Saturday

    and I hope to be at it with my memoir - I hope

    I say if possible — I am working double tides for that

    purpose — I am not absolutely determined whether it would

    be better for you to be there or not - However, in

    case it should be determined for your being there - you

    had better be provided with a decent suit of clothes to

    appear in viz: your best — I don't mean the

    French ones. Q.S.P. will be in the country Friday & Saturday,- So

    that you have nothing to fear from him -

    I shall have to two or three of the Board a recommendation

    from Foster of Colchester - a much more strenuous

    one than I should get from Poore. Poore however is in

    Town and I shall make what use I can of him.

    Wednesday May 15. 1776.

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    admitting the Air; and bring it up with you. - The Commissioners are most of them stupid fellows, I understand c I will

    suppose nothing - Get if possible the proper names for the several parts of it - Call at Nairnes if you can and get

    the name of his new inve fringe - & borrow one of them too if you can to produce — - You might even say what it was for.