Dear Sir

Downing Aug. 19^th - 90¹

To shew that I am not quite pacified I must lay on a few more stripes but not in silence as in my last: more will follow in a few posts: for being exhausted I must call in aid from the capital of north Britain.

Inclosed is a specimen of writing by my old secretary: my young one has two years work of my own before him: If the former will please, he shall be set to his task without delay. His work shall be perfect. If it stops at Dover it may be intitled From London to Dover. but it possibly will extend to the lands-end. I think I told you that I had reach the borders of Hampshire: but was and am delayed for want of the new map. This has obliged me to make a long residence on the coasts of Barbary & Morocco & now for the sake of the cool breezes have passed over to the Canaries, Madeira & azores.

As a deep secret, there is going to the press a new Edition of my London purged of the old errors & much augmented. I let you into the secret that you may if you please wait ½ a year for another L.P. copy. This to yrself or it may touch poor Faulder.

The litterary life will be sent to m^r Hughs Turnstile where please to send for it in a fortnights time. may it be relished by you.

I think the french are falling to pieces and much misery is awaiting that unhappy nations. Philosophers ever make wretched governors. As to spain I have very little fear from that quarter. They never could man their ships at any time; nor do I think them in better plight at present.²

Pray what is become of the little head of our Palinurus m^r pitt,³ which you so long flattered me with having.

In the course of my Tour 1787. I saw on the stocks ⁴ at Woolwich & Deptford certain ships I forgot to take the number of Guns Pray fill the blanks of the inclosed & return it.

with my best wishes & compliments to the Ladies: I rest Dear Sir
most truely y^rs

Th. Pennant

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Editorial notes

1. The year '- 90' is added in a later hand.
2. A war between Britain and Spain was imminent in August 1790, with reports that the Spanish fleet had left Cadiz on 20 July and that the English fleet was currently 'under sail', and expected to give a good account of itself in view of its 'excellent state'. Caledonian Mercury, 19 August 1790.
3. Pennant takes his name for Pitt from the proper name 'Palinurus', Aeneas's pilot in the Aeneid. OED.
4. A list of the names of ships built upon the stocks at Woolwich, with the number of guns on each, is given in From London to Dover (1801), p. 32.