Dear Sir

NorthCourt. Isle of Wight. August 16. 1797

Any excuse which a man so much at leisure as I am can make, for not answering your first letter, will seem clumsy, and awkward, so I hasten to thank you for your second favor, with a true sense of your good humour for not chiding me. I must begin with my daughter's most grateful acknowledgements for having her, and her malheurs, so much in your recollection. soon after we got here, a total want of appetite began, with a shocking depression of Spirits, which brought on a slow fever, for which she has been in a course of medicines, and the fever is removed, and I have the comfort to think her rather better than she has ever been since her irreparable loss, but the state of her mind is so weak, and her nerves so shatter’d, that I have a thousand anxieties, least she should go into a decline, and that I may be left a solitary wanderer in a world, where I shall have no farther business, or pleasure. as to my own health, I will only say en abbregé,¹ that after rallying from a severe indisposition last winter, in the 77^th year of my reign, I am ready to think every body mortal, except myself.

with respect to Ingleby, (for Moses seems to have cut us all) I have to say that I meant to have had a few topographical drawings for the Whitford Parish, but I fear it is out of the question now, if the letter press is return’d to London, as your last mentions it to be, unless He will draw them on thin paper, and none larger than the bottom margin of the letter press will contain, on which I have a method of pasting ^them peculiarly neat. This manner Moses pointed out to me, in the days of his humility, and I have improv’d upon it. The subjects you perhaps, will have the goodness to chuse for me, remembering that they are design’d for the Whitford Parish, or Holywell, to which places they must refer to, in your history. I would not have, in this batch, any portraits, or antiquities; what now I wish for, are Gentlemen’s houses, or picturesque views, and I must Stint him to ten Guineas, as I do not well know myself what I want, till I have examin’d my London papers, amongst which I have a list of many desiderata, taken from poor Chiswell's vast stores for Wales. I am glad you have order’d the Inside of Moystyn hall for me, which I have quite long’d for; it must look gloomy indeed now to you, who have been used to find there, the friend of your choice, your Amicus omnium horarum.² I wish accident or design, may sometime or other bring you this way again, where we should be most happy to welcome you: The place is quite different than when you saw it, and your taste would pronounce it truly comfortable, and a little more.

Lord Malmesbury will hardly bring back the olive Branch, at least yet awhile. I hear, not from him, but of him, frequently; an intimate friend of mine, now at Park place with Lady Malmesbury, writes to me when expresses arive from Lisle. He don’t write any material news to them, but in his last says he hopes to be at home by peach [sic] time, and complains of being watch’d and circumbscribed in a tiresome manner, and oblig’d to measure every word, and every step. – France seems to be in a strange state, at this moment, but it exhibits a striking proof, of the mighty advantages of a Government proceeding from a whole people. nothing but military force can overturn it, and even military force at present, stands suspended, and awed before it. were it not that the council of 500 issues from all France, there would have been another bloody Revolution before this time. After all, men are incorrigible animals, incapable for any length of time of firmness, and Wisdom, even in the pursuits of happiness and rest. one thing is certain, that they cannot give us peace just now, nor could England accept it, if they offer’d it; because an Army might cut it to pieces the next week after, agreed upon. In the mean time Lord Malmesbury will have the merit of doing better than others, what no man, I am afraid, can do well.

our best regards, and sincerest good wishes to all of the House of Pennant. - Death has been very busy of late, amongst your friends and mine; may the few years we have to pass here be better omen’d, – Faustæ sint et felices.³

I am Dear Sir, with great regard,
yours very truly

Rich^d: Bull

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Editorial notes

1. 'in short'.
2. 'friend of all hours'. Bull refers to the absence of Roger Mostyn from Mostyn following his death on 26 July 1796.
3. 'may they be auspicious and happy'.