THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 77 



Sher borne. All silk on the roads was to be stopped and the 

 necessary precautions taken. In the following month 

 Willmott reports that the French prisoners had been removed 

 from the West for greater security, and that 1,000 had passed 

 through the town on their way to Winchester. Another 

 letter tells us that in March, 1780, the whole regiment of 

 Dorset Militia was quartered at Sherborne, an event which 

 had not happened since the last war, and that the work- 

 people would probably be disturbed by the presence of the 

 soldiers. It had been customary to ship hogsheads of Cerne 

 Abbas ale from Weymouth to the Thames ; but the 

 activities of the French and Spaniards in the Channel induced 

 Willmott to send such gifts by the land route to London. 

 In the same connection Vere remarks that no Turkey silk 

 would be forthcoming for a long time, owing to the absence 

 of any convoy in the Mediterranean. 



I will next cite an illustration of one of the social customs 

 then in vogue at Sherborne. Willmott desired to celebrate 

 the christening of his son Thomas in January, 1779, and 

 being anxious to entertain his guests in the best manner he 

 asked a friend in London to obtain and send down the fol- 

 lowing provisions : 



Four quarts of real turtle soup from Horton's by the Royal Exchange ; 

 if it cannot be had, then the same quantity of mock turtle. A fore- 

 quarter of the best house lamb to be had. A turbot of 141bs. or 151bs., 

 or if not obtainable, then a fine cod fish." 

 (Unfortunately the bills for this repast have not been preserved.) 



The competing mill is again mentioned in the spring of 

 1781, when Mrs. Smout writes to Willmott expressing a 

 wish for his friendship. He consents to a meeting, but 

 pertinently reminds her that she had recently visited two of 

 his outlying silk-houses and had then offered to the children 

 an additional sixpence per week if they would leave his 

 employment. Such an action was perhaps not the best 

 foundation for a pleasant relationship between neighbours. 



A few lines may be devoted to the silk-houses in other 

 parishes, which acted as feeders to Westbury mill. One of 



