Dear Sir

Downing Jan^y. 21^st 1796

I am extremely pleased to hear you are going to resume your amusements. Let me offer my services in any thing that I can assist you. I had begun to illustrate the arctic zoology in the beginning of last year; but laid it aside for the time: not from any dislike to it; but one of my parts of the outlines of the globes seized my fancy & occupied me so much wholly as to make wish to give it to the public, as a specimen of the manner in which I would have all the others done, when I become pulvis et umbra.¹ The part I select is Hindoostan, as most entertaining & most interesting to the present times. The size will be large q^to of that [...] of Cook’s last voyage. the prints few but select. the maps which are the instructive part done in the very first manner. all the text has been long ready for the press so the trouble is not so much as you w^d think. My Histories of the parishes of Whiteford, & Holywell parish will appear next month. They are most welshy busineses. a few will be on large paper which I give you a hint of. I have so many poor compatriotes to oblige, that I mean to give no copies this time, to the rich.

I am now in hourly expectation of an express from my son to inform me I am a grand-father. we welsh are fonds of perbeing perpetuated, so my prayers are naturally for a stout boy.

My younger son increases in stature strength & goodness & I have every reason to expect he will be as great a comfort to me as David. so much for domestic concerns.

I conclude with my warmest good wishes for the welfare of miss Bulls² & yourself & am Dear Sir with truest regard
Y^r affect. & faithful Serv^t

Tho. Pennant.

turn over)
A horrible murder of a most amiable youth a tenants son has lately much disturbed me. I have not caught the villain yet. tho’ I think he is not far off.³

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Editorial notes

1. 'dust and shadow'. Pennant quotes from Horace, Odes, Book IV, ode vii, line 16: 'Pulvis et umbra sumus', 'We are but dust and shadow'.
2. Elizabeth and Catherine Bull.
3. Pennant sent a letter, dated 6 January 1796, to John Monk, printer and proprietor of the Chester Courant, regarding this murderer. He is named as Benjamin Edwards, ‘charged, on the oath of two witnesses, with the murder of … William Dyson’. Pennant offered a reward of 10 guineas above what was allowed by act of parliament for apprehending Edwards. See NLW 5502E, unnumbered.