Dear S^r

It gave me real satisfaction to find not only by your letter, but by other accounts, that the evil report of poor Lightfoots end was totally without foundation: – Have you thoughts of making honorable mention of him, or giving a short sketch of his life:¹ He was born at Newent in Gloucestershire, his father, his father a reputable yeoman, or sort of Gentleman farmer: it may be as well to be silent about his brother & Sister, who have not, I believe,, [sic] behaved well, the former was a Grocer in Gloucester & failed, not without some suspition [sic] of male practise [sic] in his business. if you wish me to make any further enquiries let me know what, & it shall be done.

I deferred answering your letter, in expectation of M^rs. Cocks return from London, & our fixing our summers excursion, but as she has not fixed her time, I would no longer delay to thank you & M^rs Pennant for your obliging invitation, which we should with the greatest pleasure accept, if it were in our power, but we are engaged to make a visit at Bristol to a relation of M^rs Nash's, & do not yet know what time will be fixed for that.

I have some business calls me to Llandrindodd & Aberystwith, could you give me a route from thence to Downing, with the distances & accomodations [sic], & whether it is easy to bring a Chaise that road.

You astonish me much at what you say about our two learned Societies:² No one ought to be denyed to copy a picture, or a MS. as we are only Trustees for the publick, & an author of your established merit has a right to every thing that the learned world can furnish, but in the minds of some people, there is a narrowness & peevishness that one cannot account for: had I known your wish, would chearfully have gone to London to support it. – M^rs Cocks left her two children here³ when she went to London, they are very fine boys, & give us great amusement, but yours are of such a superior age, that they would look upon ours with contempt. – M^rs Nash begs leave to join me in sincerest compliments & good wishes. & believe us ever Yours most truly,

T. Nash

Bevere May 20. 1788

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Editorial notes

1. A sketch of Lightfoot's life by Pennant, dated 13 November 1788, appeared in the 1789 edition of Flora Scotica, and included an account of his being taken ill at a shop in Uxbridge on 20 February 1788, dying in his bed a few hours after his return home. 'Some Account of the Author of this Work', in Flora Scotica: Or, a systematic arrangement, in the Linnæan Method, of the native plants of Scotland and the Hebrides (2 vols., 2nd edn., London: Faulder, 1789), I, pp. *v–*xii.
2. Nash probably refers to the Society of Antiquaries of London, of which he was elected a member in February 1773, and the Royal Society of London.
3. Nash refers to the two elder sons of his daughter, Margaret Cocks: Edward Charles and John Somers Cocks.