472 
order and be secure of my approbation 
and thanks. Even the fewel, settle it as 
you judge right. 
Francis Hugonin, Esq.  Nursted, 
Petersfield Hants. 
Dear Sir, 
——=+Two truths are told, 
As happpy prologues to the swelling act, 
Of the Imperial theme,—I thank you, gen- 
~ tlemea 
Or ratHER I thank you alone, whose 
zeal and friendship have delivered me 
first from Whetrow, and now from Horn 
farm; an auspicious promise of your fu- 
ture success in the last and greatest tran- 
saction, ‘which [ must however reluctant- 
ly postpone in deference to Lord S.’s de- 
cided opinion, We both wish and hope to 
have the pleasure of seeing you in town 
next month, any day that will be most con- 
venient to you between the sixth and the 
twentieth of May; and Lord S. desires 
you would bring with you any ideas or 
papers, that you may collect relative to 
the value of the woods, woodlands, quit- 
rents of Buriton. 
I fully and cheerfully ratify your agree- 
ment for Horn farm, at 26007. deducting 
the interest till Michaelmas on 1200/. 
and am ready to execute the conveyance 
as soon as it can be properly prepared. 
As to Skinner’s, if you can get 600/. tant 
miewr; but Lacquiescein the five hundred, 
and feel the weight of your observations. 
The licence from the College I suppose 
to be a matter of form but of course; 
and as you have always appeared in the 
management of my affairs, I should es- 
teem it an additional favour, if you 
would undertake tosolicit it ; but if you 
think fat it ought to proceed from my- 
self in person, I will apply as soon as I 
receive your answer. With regard to 
title-deeds I am ata loss to understand 
what you mean; my only title is founded 
in the last leases which Magdalen Col- 
lege has granted to me, and which must 
be in your hands; and if any little parcel 
of freehold be intermixed (which should 
perhaps have been discriminated,) a fair 
and willing purchaser may be satisfied 
with a peacoful possession of sixty or 
Original Letters of Mr, Gibbon. 
[June 1, 
seventy years. All my Hampshire writ- 
ings are at Sheffield Place; and if he finds 
any thing concerning the two farms, Lord 
S., who. goes next week for four or five 
days into Sussex, will bring it with hima 
to town. I entirely approve of Mr. 
Andrews having the advantage, as he 
shared the trouble, of this business. 
Tam Dear Sir, 
Most truly Yours, 
Downing-street E. Grow. 
April 24th, 1788. 
Frances Hugonin, Esq. 
Nursted, 
Petersfield. 
My Dear Sir, my 
Your active friendship, I most grate- 
fully applaud; and should have been con- 
tent with your success, had you not dropt 
a hint, that another hundred. might have 
been got for Skinner’s. The acceptance 
of Redman’s bond in part of payment 
was an uutoward circumstance; but 
you could not refuse, nor should I com- 
plain. Ithought the interest had been 
regularly cleared. Upon the whole I 
shall improve my income, and diminish 
my cares; and whatever may be the ine 
stability of the funds, L had rather have 
the nation for my debtor, than Magdalen 
College for my landlord. To morrow 
I go to Shefkeld Place, where I shall 
repose myself about a fortnight previous 
to my departure; and I must again repeat 
my serious entreaties, that you would fa- 
vour us with a visit, and bring over with 
you every verbal and written information 
that may assist us in our great council 
concerning the fate of Buriton. At the 
same time I must beg you to exact the 
whoie arrear of rent from Buriton, Horn 
farm, &c. which had been ultimately pro- 
mised in the beginning of May, and for 
which too long an indulgence has been 
given. You are now deliveredfrom the 
cares of the sale; and it is true, though it. 
may sound odd, that I never had occasion 
for money so much as at present. 
Iam, Dear Sir, 
Most faithfully Yours, 
Downing-Street, —E. Grsson. 
June the 26th, 1788. 
Francis Hugonin, Esq. 
Nursied, 
Petersfield, 
ee ae 
‘ORIGINAL, 
