Dear Sir

Perhaps I write unseasonably when you will have the noise of a thousand fiddles resting on your ears: but I must write when I can: first to thank you many [sic] agreable minutes passed in town: again for your repeated munificence. I had a fine journey to this place. The Prelate of the Garter shewed windsor to perfection. Near the Iron bridge I saw wonders. & after settling long arrears of business public & private, am [...]now returned to my desk to prepare morsels for futurity. I have wrote my littoral journal of 1787 as far as the borders of Hamshehire [sic], which I must quit for a few weeks till I can get the great new map from Faden to resume my course with safty. The isle of wight will not be neglected: but it shall new [sic] modelled according to my actual visit. entre nous¹ I have had my litterary life copied for myself by my young secretary: not less elegantly than that you have. but augmented. If you wish it a copy shall be yours at the price of. 15^s. I must insist on y^r accepting the first Edition. but this I fling as a perquisite to the lad for such friends I chuse to trust with it. De Buffonsvoltaire's, Hallers & other heads may serve to adorn it. I find myself greatly relieved by my resolution to leave of [sic] publications. By my present ease, I know the load I have flung off.

my Secretary will soon begin to copy my journey of 1787 from the Temple stairs to Dover. [...]He shall do a copy for [sic] it: if it [sic] agreable; for you are one I ever wish to amuse. Pray let me hear from you soon; & give me an account of y^r intended motions. my best complements & wishes attend miss Bull's² & yourself.

Adieu
Y^rs most truely

T Pennant.

Downing May 29^th3 - 90

The state of France appears to ^be most miserable: & I think spain in the event will come in for its troubles.

I beg my complim^ts to Sir W. Burrel. When you call on him. Be so good as to ask to look at his notes & inform me when Godwood was alienated from the Percises, & how, & was it actually their residence. & how came the Dukes of Richmond by it.⁴

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Editorial notes

1. 'between ourselves'.
2. Elizabeth and Catherine Bull.
3. possibly added later by Richard Bull:
4. Goodwood in Sussex was alienated to Henry Walrond by John, Lord Lumley, and his wife, Jane Fitz Alan, in 1584. See Richard Dally, The Bognor, Arundel and Littlehampton guide, comprising a history of those places, and of the castle of Arundel; ... with a full description of Goodwood house, and of the Roman remains at Bignor [sic] (Chichester: William Mason, 1828), p. 115. The estate was bought by Charles Lennox, first duke of Richmond (1672–1723) in 1697. ODNB. The compliments extended to Sir William Burrell, and the remainder of the text of this letter, in Thomas Pennant's hand, appear on the address sheet.