40 SIR JOHN STATHAM, OF WIGWELL. 
barne doores with the finest white, plump Phesant fowles, out of 
those you order your dayly entertainm‘'. After this, if you’re for 
shooting, Moor game, partridges, Wild Ducks, &c at the door; if 
exercise, a good bowling green & many long walks; if reading, a 
library ; if walking, a dry Park, with a delicious nut wood, full of 
singing birds, turtles & Guinea hens, a delicate Eccho, where 
musick sounds charmingly. In it are labarinths, statues, arbors, 
springs, grottos & mossy banks, in the middle a large clear fish 
Pond with a draw bridge & Close Arbor, in the Water a Cellar 
for choice liquor, & the whole stow’d full of nimphs kind & 
obliging without art or designe more than Love for Love. Theres 
about 30 families in the liberty, & in every house you may discerne 
some good blood. If retirement be irksome, on notice to Wirks- 
worth theres loose hands, Gentlemen, Clerygymen &c Ever ready 
at an hour & stay just as long as you’d have ’em and no longer & 
easy to be told so. This is really a genuine and true description 
of this place & way of life, if you’l come & try it & use it as your 
own, as the master is intirely yoS Ido think you'd say as the 
first Duke of D. s*, the 3 days he was yearly lost in Needwood 
forest, those were the only days wherein he tasted life. If rainy 
weather confines you, I have a library & the famous Chimist M* 
Harris to amuse you with experiments & a Playwright author of 
some Comedies to divert you. And as I know you rather delight 
in giving life than taking it away your visit would give new life to 
Oss? yt miosti&e. 9 J.78: 
(tn dorso) ‘‘Tothe Hon** Charles Stanhope Esq at his Seate 
at Elvaston.” (Stine date.) 
July ye 8th 1723. 
An Abstract of my Title to my Estate at Matlock & Tansley. 
It’s the small remaind" of a very plentifull Estate w® the 
Stathams had in Derbyshire ; their ancient seat was at Morley, 
Com. Derb’ & Barton com’ Lanc’ which last they lost by the 
