By the Bev. Canon J. E Jackson, F.S.A. 285 



a good man as ever was bom, is put on the list of Sheriffs for Wilts. I 

 w^ never solicite to have him excused, nor w^ Mr. Pleydell desire it, was it 

 possible for him to discharge y" office but his health is so extreamly ruin'd by 

 sickness, & his mind so broken by misfortunes that it w'* be an act of barbarity 

 to force him into this employment. 



" If M^ Harley C* prevail upon the Duke of Newcastle, L"* Pawlet, or any 

 other Privy Counsellor to appeare for him, it w"* be a .never to be forgotten 

 obligation & I pawn my honour & word the excuses are true in fact. Dear Tom, 

 make my comp' to all my friends & believe me ever yr H. S. J." 



3. The Same to Rt. Hon. R. Hakley. 



" Bucklebury. Sep. 17 1709. 



" I send this note to express my concern y' I am not able to wait on you att 

 Oxford as Mr. Granville & I had proposed to do. 



" Ton can have nothing to communicate to me w^ will not be so far welcome 

 that it comes from you. But I begin to expect neither peace abroad nor good 

 order att home. 



" I wish you perfect health & good weather, two articles of no small importance 

 to y« satisfaction & joy of Hfe. In 3 weeks time I intend to go to Lavington. 

 My Hounds & Horses are already there, my Books will soon follow. In that 

 retreat, if I may hear sometimes y' you & y^ few friends w^ I have in y' world 

 are well, all will be well with me. I am ever Dear Sir 



"faithfully yours." 



4. The Same to Rt. Hon. R. Haeley. 



" Bucklebury. Sep. y' 21"' 1709 



" Having an opport^ of sending a letter safely to Oxford, & Stratford having 

 formerly told me that he had a very sure way of conveying anything to you, I 

 transmit this to him. 



" I sh"* have been very glad to have known y° particulars of this noble project, 

 since it's hard to imagine what air of probability C* be given to any story cal- 

 culated for such a purpose. But there is an ill-nature in y^ world wh makes 

 men incapable of submitting to y' laws of friendship themselves & of patiently 

 seeing it prevail among others. 



" I thank you for those kind comprehensive wishes w*" you bestow upon me. 

 In this obscure & private life I am perfectly easy, & shall with y^ same ease 

 return to y" noise & business of an active publick life, whenever y' service of my 

 country or of my friends calls me forth. 



" Since you are so indifferent as not to trouble yrself either about y' peace, or 

 ab' y^ measures w"^ our Governours at home wiU pursue, my indifference will 

 increase upon me, & I will likewise wait with patience for that something wh. is 

 not much expected. 



" Adieu, D' S', may you stiU continue involv'd in y' virtue & shielded by y' 

 innocence, safe from every dart of malice. May all y' designs for y^ good of y' 

 countiy prosper, & every other blessing light upon you 



" Sic vovet 



«H. S." 

 (To be Continued.) 



