Dear Sir.

Stratton Street, Jan^y. 2. 1790

I don’t know from what original Moses Griffyth, has taken the drawing of M^r. Pitt, which he sent me at the End of your Introduction to the Arctic Zoology, but it has a Stronger likeness, and more of character, and spirit, than any Picture, or print, I have yet seen of that wonderful young man. I mean this, by way of preface, before I ask you whether you have any objection to my getting it engraved ^for sale it shall be done well, or not at all, and I will reserve half a dozen Impressions for you, and myself. pray give me your answer and I beg you to understand, that it is not a matter, I make a point of, if you have any objections that do not occur to me. – now I ^am upon the subject of Prints, let me ask you, whether you have got the four Apostles who by Rousellet, the originals of which you mention to be in Broad lane House. if not, I can give you a Set. the Arms Moses has sent me, with the Barons Coronet, and a royal Coronet annex’d, are, I apprehend the Arms of Lutterel, and that thereby hangs a tale, but what the Story is, or where I am to place the drawing I know not; pray have the goodness to inform me.

If there is any news, I am not in the way of hearing it. – It is said the Prince of Wales, has got again into debt to a vast amount, and that he has lately borrow’d 300,000, on post obit’s,¹ which his two next brothers have guarantee’d, & the payment to be made by either brother who may come to the Crown.² The Duke of Orleans is little respected here, it is generally believ’d that he meant to have assasinated his King, and that La Fayette knew it, and told him he had his head in his pocket, if he chose to take the forfeit, but He advis’d him to get a passport, and [...]away to England, as fast as he could.³ My daughter is better, but does not gain strength, indeed she was never a Giantess. I hope you, and your house, enjoy your healths. – Employ me, if you want such [...] trifling services as I have to offer you,

& believe me, Dear Sir,
Yours always.

R: B -

P.S. while I was sealing my letter, I receiv’d yours,⁴ – ––– [...] I am expecting company every moment to dine, so can only say, I will go to Edwards, on monday morning, and as soon as I gain the intelligence you wish for, I will trouble you with another letter, as bad written as this is, which I could write better, if I would, and so could you, but neither of us think it worth while. –

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Editorial notes

1. 'A bond given by a borrower, securing to the lender a sum of money to be paid on the death of a specified person from whom the borrower expects to inherit.' OED.
2. The brothers in question were Frederick, duke of York (1763–1827), and William, duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765–1837).
3. For an account of the relations of Orléans and Lafayette following the events of 5–6 October 1789, when crowds marched to Versalles to vent their anger against the monarch, see Tom Ambrose, Godfather of the Revolution: The Life of Phillippe Égalité, Duc D'Orléans (London: Peter Owen, 2008), pp. 169–70.
4. See 1094.