470 
the half year and Luff’s account. ‘ do 
pot absolutely want the money ; and the 
weighitier is the lump of debt against him, 
the more polite he wifi continue. Nota 
plank, I hope is; or will be added to the 
Voluntary repairs, till he has signed. As 
We contine ourselves to that single article, 
there cannot, I should think, . be any Oc- 
easion for laying the lease beiore coun- 
cil. . But if you are of a contrary opinion, 
send it up immediately. 
With regard to Mrs. Lee, I should be 
very unwilling to raise a ms upon 
what might perhaps be legal, but would 
surely be ok v indelicate grounds 
By Holroyd’s s advice, I am insuring at 
Bariton, &c.. With his usual clearness, 
he has drawn me up a plan for that pur- 
pose. We waut only answers to the fol- 
jawing points. 1. Morn’s barn, whether 
thatched or fled, or both, 2. The same 
of Whetraw farfa-hause; 3. What barns 
upon Horn-farm, and how covered. At 
your leisure, my ‘dear Sir, a word to those 
questions. “Adieu, 
Most sincerely your’s, 
Bentinck-street, E. G1pBon. 
Dee 16, 1773. 
Do you ever shoot ? When do you 
think of London. 
Dear Sir, 
I made an effort, I have been forced. 
to make several lately, to discharge the 
Magdalen College fine with the imper- 
fect assistance which you were able to 
send me. As I knew the danger of de- 
Jay, it was paid into Chiid’s shop, before 
Christmas, day. That was the essential 
part; 1. have not given any particular 
notice as yet; though I may as well send 
a line to desire that both the leases may 
be delivered to you. 
You embarrass me to. the last degree 
about Lee’s.fences, as you require in- 
structions without giving advice. Even 
in choice of evils and difficulties, and of 
Jate I have had little else, something 
must be preferable: I want your opinion 
about that something. If Mr. Lee is 
reasonable, I should think that in a 
question where the vigour of law seems to. 
be’against him, he would listen to some 
equitable proposal. which would divide. 
the burthen between us. But the diffi- 
culty would be removed, if both estates 
should again be unjted in the hands of 
one tenant. Ihave sufficiently felt the 
- obstinate madness uf Winton; yet I can-_ 
not persuade-myself, that after. relin- 
_ quishing a capital house: and farm, he” 
Original Letters Of Mr, Gibbon. 
[June ky 
will ae in occupying, almost without 
any habitation, a few inconsiderable de- 
tached fields... If we could have a little 
mutual patience, ull he was gone, the fair 
exchange which you recommended to 
me, would easily accommodate both 
partes. If this delay should be imprac- 
ticable, [could wish to form some notion 
of che. probable cost of restoring the 
fences, that we might judge how far it 
would be advisable to purchase peace, or 
to engage in (legal) war. . 
must own that [ am exceedingly dis- 
appointed about the payment of the stock, 
as I expected that Hearsay would have 
taken and immediately paid for the 
whole, and that I should have recovered 
all, or nearly all of the eight hundred and 
odd pounds of my heart’s blood, which 
you were forced to drain. I am very 
much mortified to find that a consider 
able part of the stock is still to be dis- 
posed of, and as you apprehend to a 
disadvantage; and that even the poor 
pittance, which Hearsay is to pay, (8501.) 
will not be ready in less than a month. 
I hope that we are secured, (by bonds 
and penalties, such as were ‘imposed on 
me,) that the payment will not be de- 
layed beyond this term of grace, with 
which I was not indulged. . 
I must beg the favour of you fo nikal 
the whole of the sum, and to remit if to~ 
gether with all the odd ends you can 
collect, from arrears of rent, sale of wood, 
&c. for Ido not remember, that I ever 
found myself with smaller receipts, and 
Jarger demands, than at present. Want 
of money and of credit, is indeed the 
universal complaint, beyond the example 
of any former times. _ - 
I sincerely sympathize. with you in the 
state of your eyes, and wish that you 
would fix your residence for some time in 
town where you might enjoy without ins. - 
terruption the benetit of skilful advice. 
_The zeal wich you-exercise, and I am 
afraid hurt your eyes for my service, gives 
me real uneasiness, and I considér myself 
as accessary in some degree to your 
misfortunes. Yet I will give you. the 
atigue, (for it must be a fatigue, rather - 
than a pleasure) of reading a pamphlet, 
which I have just published, against some 
of my clerical adversaries. Perhaps you 
may blame me for taking notice. af them, 
and perhaps you will be in the right ; 
but I bave endeavoured in the first 
pages to state the reason of my conduct. 
If Mr. Barton should be at Bariten, 7 
should, like to know Tis judgment as tg 
tac 
=a 
