LETTER CXLV 237 



from you, I begin to suppose that you are returned to Selbourne, 

 and are setting again under your beautifull Hedges. Mean Time 

 I have not forgot You. I had lately Occasion to write to Sr 

 George Savile at Thornhill & as I knew that he had been a 

 Patron to Mr Woollen, & that his Widow was probably at Hand 

 there, as She was an Elmsall, I took the Liberty of desiring him 

 to get me from that Family what Information he could about the 

 Living of Blackbourne. He is not quite satisfied yet, & has 

 set Mr Elmsall to be more particular, but I will extract out of 

 his Letter what he say of it : As your Brother has ye Choice 

 of Two Livings, I thought he should know the worst of taking 

 the most distant ; when I am fuller informed I will give You the 

 whole of my Search ; I hoped to oblige You in it, & I am sure 

 Sr George has obliged me. I begin to transcribe — 



" Mrs Woollen does not certainly know the Value of ye 

 " Living of Blackbourne, but thinks it is about £200 a Year. 

 " And when the Vicar does not reside, the People are not pleased 

 "without two Curates, as there is a great deal of Duty there, 

 " & Mr Woollin always had two there that there might be no 

 " Complaints of any neglect. He gave them £35 pr an. each, 

 " besides a Collection made for them for reading Prayers twice 

 " a Week, but Mrs Woollin does not know to what that 

 " amounted. 



" If this Account be not satisfactory there is a Person, whom 

 " She names, who is well acquainted wth the Value of the Living. 

 " That Person is at Blackburn & Mrs Elmsall will write, & You 

 " will have a farthur account from Mr Elmsall when the Answer 

 " comes. But as there have now elapsed since Mr WooUin's 

 "Death (which happen'd Feby 1st) near 4 months & a half, I 

 "thought it best to send You the above acct now; especially 

 "as the Elmsalls seem to beleive it is pretty near the Mark, 

 " altho' Mrs Woollin says She does not certainly know the Value 

 " of ye Living, for this Uncertainty does not probably exceed the 

 " Limits of £20, vizt, running between £190 or £200 or £210." 



This is the Extract fm Sr George. 



I hope to hear that your Brother & Sistr are safe arrived 

 & well very soon. Poor Jack Gibr must cast a longing Bye 

 towards the Sea, & You too must rejoyce in seeing a Brother 

 so long removed from You. I wish You a happy Meeting. 



I am not got to Meonstoke, it will yet be some Time first, 

 but I cannot tell how long : It may be the second or third week 

 in July. But I hope not quite so late. 



Let me hear fm You, that I may know where you are, & 

 whether my Information is of any Service, & whither I may 

 direct the Kesidue when I receive it. 



I hear Mr Wood succeeded at Oriell. 



I am, Dear Gil, Ever afftely Your's, 



J. Mulso. 



