London. April 8^th 1776

Dear Sir

I quite agree with you about neglecting the attack from the Macgregor.¹ M^r Low’s M.S. will be welcome at any time but it need not be hurried as I shall be much out this summer.

Pray do you know anything of a Poem by James I. called la Beltain.² I am told it exists. I see it mentioned in Major. The Prints shall be sent with my books as soon as the last appear. I must take the liberty of troubling you with the distribution. I am in much haste. But command my services here till May. 1^st. when I leave town.

I am D^r Sir
y^r very humble Serv^t

Tho. Pennant

Pray say nothing of my request of not communicating what I think I have a right to. or people will be angry at me.

My escape from the fall of Buckingham Church is very true.³

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Editorial notes

1. See Pennant's letter to Paton on 3^rd February 1776 and notes.
2. Probably a reference to the popular ballad 'Peblis to the Play', in which Beltane celebrations are mentioned. The attribution to James I of Scotland is disputed.
3. In his Literary Life Pennant writes: 'At Buckingham I narrowly escaped a death suited to an antiquary; I visited the old church at 8 o'clock in the morning of March the 26th. It fell before 6 in the afternoon, and I escaped being buried in its ruins.' (London: 1793), p.24.