Dyffryn aled, Oct^r. 4^th: 1783

Dear Sir,

In the course of long absences, I cannot do without a scribling word with you; and indeed there are no materials here, to give occasion to many: I have scarce seen anyone this month past, that is new, or that bringeth news to me; The Dean of S^t. Asaph indeed, and M^rs. Shipley, and our Rector of Llansannan, and his Family, dined here in the beginning of the Week: His Deanship appeared to me, in good spirits; He has certainly Political Courage; and the Sense of Injuries, (and surely in some parts of his Case, he has been injuriously treated) will raise rather than depress the Party so injured:¹ But I must not launch into this great Gulph of Provincial Politicks, which has suited almost every man's [...] size of Abilities, to range in: I find that M^r. Erskine detaches himself from the Coffee=House Legislators, and comes down next Great Session to Ruthin, on his own proper Grace, and Cost, to support M^r. Dean: Truly, I shall be sorry (as I said to you, heretofore) if that Cause is in future to pass through more than common forms; If it is yet meant to be fully debated, it will be the source I fear, of many unpleasant things yet to come, and will revive a very silly Pamphlet, which as it happens, seems to have diffused no Poison, and which, I really believe the Dean republished with no evil Will, or Intent whatsoever, but from the high and imprudent Spirit of the moment, stimulated by debate, and Contradiction: I do now understand, that M^r. F: and his Lady, in his name, disclaim the Prosecution; But can the world give him credit, so long,[...] as it still proceeds in the name of Jones; a name so immediately, and so inferiorly attached to him; and whose private and public Interest should personally disengage him ^(Jones) from such Actions: In my thought, if M^r. F: would wish to apear manly, and Candid, let him openly avow his present Retension, and leave Jones to act in the thing, propria mente, & in propria Persona;² and in the Event of so doing, I think, we should be rid of this disagreeable business. Di: is very well, and desires to be very kindly remember'd to you, & M^rs. Pennant, your Son, and Daughter, together with myself also. She has lately lost her Kinsman M^r. Gestlin, as you may have heard: He was an honest man I Believe, and had a regard for her, tho I do not expect she will feel any marks of it, in his Will; for he took as I thought an unreasonable part in our affairs last Year, and because I could not suffer them to pass just as he wished, Refused to be a Trustee to the Settlement:³ But this Entre nous.⁴ Repay me in Kind, and let me once have a long letter from you, &

Believe me, in the mean time, Affectionately
Y^rs.

Ph: Yorke

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Editorial notes

1. Yorke goes on to discuss the controversy surrounding the republication by William Davies Shipley of a reformist political pamphlet by William Jones, published annonymously by the Society for Constitutional Information. Shipley, as chairman, read the pamphlet before the Flintshire Association and Correspondence (for parliamentary reform) in January 1783 and, when this action was criticized, arranged for its publication. This led to angry reaction from the high sheriff of the county, Thomas Fitzmaurice, who had Shipley indicted for the publication of a seditious libel. A hearing at the Denbighshire grand sessions in September was postponed and the case removed to the king's bench in March 1784. It was finally decided in favour of Shipley at the Shrewsbury assizes in August 1784. ODNB.
2. 'correctly and his own person'.
3. Yorke's comments may refer to the marriage settlement relating to his union with Diana (née Wynne), whom he married in 1782.
4. 'Between ourselves.'