Dear Sir

The answer to my last has been impatiently expected by poor Ingleby. He has by my impertinence done a few drawings for you: but he wishes now to stop till he knows, it is quite agreable to you. I am sorry to trouble on the subject. Indeed it is a little trouble to myself; for my spirits are far from good. all things go on well with me but the loss of Sir Roger M still hangs heavy. The house is altered. The house is as the Spectator says. inhabited by Ruricola, but Ruricola transformed.¹ Every good thing attend miss Bull and yourself. I hope y^r fears about here are over.

Ingleby will send the letter press to Stratton street by to morrows pCoach he had done no drawings for your Whiteford. Please to name any you please for the journey to London, or leave them to me. What is to doing at Lisle we daily look out for the blessing of peace;² but now suspect the french dare not make one. Pray let me hear speedily of y^rs & [...] good daughter's health

Adieu
Dear Sir,
y^rs most affectly

T. Pennant

Downing Aug. 12^th 1797

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Editorial notes

1. Pennant refers to a tale related in the Spectator, no. 192, 10 October 1711, of the unworthy son of the commendable Ruricola, who 'perpetuates his father in the same manner as the appearance of his ghost would: it is indeed Ruricola, but it is Ruricola grown frightful’. The Spectator; with Notes and a General Index. From the London Stereotype Edition (2 vols., Philadelphia: J. J. Woodward, 1832), I, pp. 283–4.
2. Peace talks between Great Britain and France were held in the summer of 1797. As early as August difficulties were arising because of the French Government’s insistence on the return of its own captured colonies and those of its allies, Spain and the Batavian Republic. By the end of September the talks were in a state of deadlock, and they were abandoned in October. S. Maccoby (ed.), ‘1797–9’, in English Radicalism 1786–1832 (London: Routledge, 2002; reprint of a book first published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1955), p. 118.