LETTER CLXXXIV 287 



ill as to be very near Death ; our Servant Eichd Smith fell ill, 

 & died on Thursday last after about a fortnight's Sickness, & was 

 buried last Night ; I carried off Mrs Anne on her Eeturn to 

 London as far as Alresford ; So that You see we have not been 

 a proper house to make a Visit to : and as it must have given 

 You much more Pain than Pleasure, I am glad that You was 

 not a Witness to our Distress. We have got a Cook ; & a Foot- 

 man has offer'd to-day. We want a good Housemaid, for my 

 wife has advanced the Housemaid to her own Servant's Place, 

 as a Eeward of great good Nature, Industry & Honesty. My 

 dear Billy is sail'd wth his Cozen Young in the Hind for Quebec ; 

 as they go North about, I fear they must reach ye Eiver St 

 Lawrence very late. The Parting with these dear young Men, 

 succeeded by these distresses at home, have made Mrs Mulso's 

 Time & mine pass very heavily of late. We purpose to go to 

 Winchester before the End of next Month. 



I called on Mr Buller at Alresford, & he told me of your 

 having in your Option the Living that You had long had in your 

 Eye.* He wonder'd whether You would resolve upon taking 

 it or no. I own I should think You very wrong if You did not. 

 You will be Money out of Pockett for a Year or two, but You 

 will be repaid hereafter. The Situation & the Distance are both 

 of them strong Temptations & really good Circumstances. The 

 Farmers cannot but expect a Else ; You are in ye right not to 

 think of straining them ; but You have Prudence enough not 

 to say so. There is a Mr Bloxham of Winterslow near Salisbury, 

 who is an able Surveyor ; but at the same time, he seems to me 

 to screw up too tight, & he has by no Means settled my Affairs 

 to my Mind, as my Farmers revolt from his Terms. So that 

 I would have You use your own Discretion, & consider the Times. 

 But at all Events You will raise your Living to Something more 

 than it stands now, as Mr Cowper was on it a great Number of 

 Years at the old Eent. The Curate there is a valuable Acquisi- 

 tion ; and I now hope to see You Master of your own Time. 



I have not pd Padwick for You : I have not seen him, nor 

 have I had any Opportunity of going over to Hambledon, John 

 Knight having been in door Servant as well as out ; so that 

 I grow musty & my Horses spoil. My Son, your Cotemporary, 

 has no Horse to ride over upon, So that You must forgive him ; 

 & he is of great Use & Comfort to Us at home ; He begs his best 

 Eespects & does not want Inclination to wait upon You any more 

 than his Father ; but Circumstances govern Us too severely. 



Let me know how You resolve about ye Living, for as You do 

 not pass the great Seal, I shall not perhaps see your Name in 

 the Papers. I think ye Bp of Salisbury is your Diocesan in 



* Ufton Nervett in Berkshire. 



