14 ORMISTOUN'S LETTERS 



house there. I believe there are about 2000 of them. We 

 have had more rain w*in this week than all this Winter before. 



21 ffeby. 173f . 



21 Deer. 1734. Charles, — I have your's just now of 13*^ Inclosing the Ace* 

 of trees planted in the Wood and to be planted in the Spring, 

 which I wrote for in the form you now send itt. Your Ink 

 and my Eyes are both so bad that I can scarce read your letters, 

 and this last so bad upon the direction that I am surprised 

 how they found out at the post house for whom it was. I am 

 keeping the post man, so I must make this as short as I can. 

 I understand that notwithstanding all I have repeated again 

 and again to Alex*" Cokb: he is sneding up trifling Birches and 

 Quack Esps which ought to be quite cutt down. Sure, Sure 

 he is most obstinate. How many trees did I stand by and 

 make him cutt after he had been puzling and losing time in 

 sneding of them and the tree if lett grow could never have 

 signify'd but have disfigured the Wood. Upon Receipt of this 

 go to him and tell him if after all I have said he neither can 

 use common sense, nor will he follow repeated and positive 

 orders, tho I have been at so much pains to explain my orders, 

 that I will putt ane end to his working in the Wood at all, for 

 I won't have my woods managed as they have been, neither can 

 I be eternally plagued w* repeating orders. My patience will 

 have ane end, and I will not have my Woods gone through as 

 if Dres'd, and trees left to disfigure the whole, even at last 

 dressing, as he knows this is to the Easter Wood. I have 

 ordered you to go sometimes and see how he goes on, so if you 

 don't see to his observing my orders, you must take the Blame. 

 In short make him go over it again, and cutt down his Babies 

 of Birches and Quack Esps,i which never can come to any 

 thing, being so much smaller than the rest will disfigure itt and 

 sink the price of the rest but never can add to the value. He 

 must give up his passionate love for such good for nothings, 

 or my Service. That is in Short, for I will be served in my own 



^ Used in contempt from the fool's bauble or mace, a regular property on the 

 Elizabethan stage. These birches would be self-sown and lanky. * Quack 

 Esps' are quaking (trembling) aspens. 



