Sir

I am glad to hear by your Favour from Bridport That you got well There; I hope this will Find you so in Town –

Your Directions to Betty Dyer & Sol I have Communicated to Them & They will be Comply’d with.

There was a Fine Rain Most part of yesterday & this morning, so no need of Watering.

Mr Brice has finish't the Garden-door and painted it with Turpentine.

The Fence at the end of the Canal is done too, but I Think not high Enough.

Sol is gone down to fetch up his Wife to weed in the garden, Says he has your permission, But Betty Dyer Thinks it will be very inconvenient for her to be in the house and Expects your Order before She admits her –

Sir John Davy & his Sisters came here the Day you went away, & Saw the House, But not me, For I intend whilst here to seclude myself from Spiritual & Temporal –

In what manner I am to be here, you’l intimate to your Housekeeper; pray Let it be as Pencioner [‘paying costs’] not at Large, For I intend to be very abstemious.

I am Sir

Your very Faithful Servant

N Rowe

I sent you by Wednesday's post Two Covers, wherein were 3 Letters, 1 for yourself, & 2 for the Captain. 1 to Each was Charg’d; that to you I cou’d not Contest, unless you’d return the Cover.

The Farmer* says he has reserv’d a Pipe of his best Cyder for you, desires to know if you’l please to have it, Else he’l Dispose of it; you shall have it as he sells the Same Sort.

Sir

I have your Favour of the 1st Past, and am very Glad you got to Town well & so Soon! –

I hope as the Flock was so Large, Few Scabby Sheep were among ‘Em; and if the Shepherd bides among ‘Em, ‘Twill be the more agreable too.*

The Joiner wants your Orders to rip up the Floor in the upper Closset over the porch, Says the Boards being of the same Colour with those in the new Buildings- Chambers, They’l do better Than new: Says you gave Him Leave to Take away the Wainscot There too.

Sir

I am sorry to acquaint you that yesterday there arived an Express with an Account of the Death of the Duke of York at Monaco on the 17th instant.* It is immagined that his Illness was brought on by over fatigue; as he had travel’d near 500 Miles from Fryday to Monday when he arived at Toulon where it is said he danced all night and then embarked for Genoa but went to Monaco in order to see some Roman Antiquities &c. He found himself but very indifferent on his arivel. He was receiv’d with great politeness by the Prince and at Supper complain’d of being sick and desired to have something in private which was granted but when it was brought him he was not able to eat anything and insisted upon embarking the next morning for Genoa, tho perswaided to the Contrary by the Prince &c, but he was determined to get there if Possible. But after he had been out some time he found himself so ill that they put back again immediatly. Upon his arival they sent away for Physiciens both from Nice & Turin. His disorder turned out a Milliery fever and as he did not find himself better in ten or twelve days he insisted upon taking Dr James's Powder, which accordingly he did & it had its usual effect. It is said that the Eruption struck in & fell upon his bowels and brought on a mortification in his stomach &bowels of which he died the day after, viz the 17th instant. He was ill 13 days – This is what I have been able to learn of this Melancholy affair for I have not been able to see My Mother [?] (who had letters) as they were in such confusion and hurry – Lord North is appointed Chancellor & W Ellis succeds Lord North.

I am sir your oblig’d humble servant

W Hudson

Sir

I Troubled you with a Letter Some time go, which I hope came Safe to your Hands; I have now only to let you know, that Lord Hobart's Entertainment was last Wednesday, when your Sister's & Nephew's [‘kinsman’s’] Letters were Read, and Receiv’d with an Unanimous approbation; I’m Sorry Mr Harry Drake's application shou’d give you or Lady Drake any Uneasiness; I do assure you there is no Occasion for it. None but Good Dr Creed* as I know of, is in his Interest, and He like the Æthiopian, can't Change his Hue –

I am with great Respect, Sir

Your most obliged and Humble Servant

N Rowe When you have Read the Enclosed & my Lady, be pleas’d to Send it to the young Gentleman.**

If you wrote a Word or two to Mr Edgcombe & Mr Wyatt, ‘twou’d be not amiss.

* Mr Harry Drake's application was for the position of MP granted by Lady Drake on FHD's behalf to her brother Samuel Heathcote. Dr Creed, the vicar of Buckland Monachorum and a freeholder of Bere Alston, was a frequent cause of trouble.

** The letter was to be forwarded to Samuel Heathcote.

Added on reverse, possibly in FHD's hand: ‘Mr Rowe. Feb:20.1740.’

Added in pencil: ‘to Mr Heathcote.

Dear Sir

I Received your Favour of the 15th with much pleasure, it being always one to me to hear of your Welfare, which None more Sincerely wishes – Whenever your Studys will permit, a Flight from Bennet College will be very agreable here –

I am very Glad you have Some of your Winchester School Fellows with you, that Early acquaintance Carrys a Friendship with it as lasting as Life, and often very useful – I am Charm’d with your Reflection on that Contemptible Vice,* it Destroys more than the Locusts of Ægypt, and has Marr’d more bright Genius's than Mahomet's paradice – the Fatal Effects I’m at present too Sensible of: I’m perswaded you know how to preserve the proper Decorums with the Young Gentleman you hint at, Though his Taste is Disagreable to you, as I pray God it always may – Silenus is more a Beast, than the Ass He's put upon.