THE FAMILY OF KILLIGREW. 271 



It is but by guess I have to tell you that you are not to expect to see 

 y® Col° * till about y® end of y^ first week in May, who bringing with him 

 y® young gentleman in question, must add considerably to y^ flurry you will 

 be put in from his being a person of great consideration, as I hear, tho' I know 

 not so much as his name, and as Litle any particular of his circumstances. 

 But supose you must be advised by the Col" as to your providing accomodation 

 for their Eetinue. Two Bed Chambers for ye gentlemen you will put in 

 y^ best order you can ; a room for y^ Serv'^ to Eat in ; The best Cook your 

 Town aifords ; some choise good Hambs and a provision of fatt chickens ; 

 Wine you must leave Mr. James to provide ; and if any fine green Tea be to 

 be had, you must secure some of it, as what y^ Col° is most Nice in, and 

 drinkes much off. Two of y® Largest Tea Potts you can borrow, He using 

 them both at a time. Nice and knowing beyond y^ comon in providing a 

 Table, so that your mother will only have to receive his orders Every 

 morning on that head. The Stable put in y^ best order you can, provided 

 with Hay & Corne. If I do not greatly mistake, this flury cannot continue 

 above three weeks, for that their impatience will be greater to get back to 

 Bath than it is to see Falm". 



You are still in time to see that your Closett & Books be put in y^ best 

 Order you can, and nothing to be seen there belonging to other people's 

 business, but only to y^ Estate. You will finde y® Col° quick of comprehention, 

 and as ready at figures as can be suposed. At y« same time you observe to 

 them y« great sums I have raised from y® Estate you will do me y^ Justice to 

 note ye improve*^ I have made upon it. And that tho' times are now 

 dead as thro'out y^ Kingdome, yet as they have been good it may reasonably 

 be hoped they will be so again, & that in y" main you doubt not of giving a 

 yearly demonstration (by y^ Kentall) of y^ increase of y" Estate ; when 

 Diner is over you git back to your Closet, and as you see it proper, you 

 returne with your pen in your Ear, making y^ Col° sensible he is wanted 

 above, whereby he may git rid of impertinant Comp" if such be with him. 

 Nor can I see in respect to time y^ CoP can do more in business than from 

 day to day, he giving you orders w^ii you will take in writing, and at parting 

 take his hand to them, you giving him a duplicate. 



You will be able to borrow glasses, knives, forks, and spoons, with some 

 handsome pieces of plate, in everything to make y^ best figure you can ; & 

 if you can borrow a better Horse then your own, you ought to do it. Belying 

 upon ye Col" generosity (His greatest fault), you will be nothing out of pocket 

 upon this occasion. As from me pray your Mother to trouble y^ Col" with 

 as Litle of her conversation as her business will admit off. I thinke enough' 

 at a time to a man of your accute parts. 



Yours, 

 St. James's, 16th Aprill, 1737. MAET. KILLIGEEW. 



* Col. West, husband of the last Sir Peter's youngest granddaughter, 

 of whom more anon. The "young gentleman "is apparently Mr. Merrill, 

 subsequently the husband of the Colonel's eldest daughter. - 



