1765 EEFUSES CHOLDERTON 145 



Fortune would make you comfortable. Wilts is under Salis- 

 bury, and the present bishop is a reasonable man. I hear 

 heavy complaints of my Lord of Exeter for obliging his 

 clergy to reside, whether they have a house or no, so I am 

 glad it is not in that Diocese. I had a letter lately from my 

 sister Chapone in which she tells me that she had laid a 

 little plan with you for a visit to me this spring or summer." 



Whether the Bishop of Salisbury proved what 

 Mulso would have termed an unreasonable man 

 does not appear, but the living was declined. 



On March 9th, 1765, Mulso again writes : — 



"I hope to see you according to the plan you have laid 

 down. I have had a letter from Mrs. Chapone, in which she 

 seems to think, that, if business will permit, she cannot have 

 an opportunity of a fellow traveller more agreeable than 

 yourself, and that at her time of life she may set off with you 

 without the imputation of being driving away to Scotland. 

 . , . Your description of your sitting in your dining-room 

 reminds me of your old situation in the Fens. For shame, 

 Gil, this vacuity ought to have been filled up." 



IP On May 19th, 1765, another letter announces the 

 recent dangerous illness of Mrs. Mulso, and that 

 Mrs. Chapone would "not be of your party. She 

 cannot leave London till July, if then, and has 

 another plan of conveyance." 



The Gai^den Kalendar pleasantly records its com- 

 piler's observations on the journey home from Fy field, 

 where he had been visiting his brother Henry. 



" July 6. There have been fine rains round Andover and 

 Salisbury: the verdure on the Downs is very delicate and 

 the sheep ponds are full of water. But when I came on this 



VOL. I. — L 



