Downing April 14^th 1782.

Dear Sir

Far or near: in or out I never forget those I respect. convey therefore my condolences to M^r Storer, & notwithstanding I cannot give him again distinguished plates, I may contribute to his amusement in his private hours by making him partake of my labors: perhaps the heads of ^the next book may find a way to his study.

I will take care of the drawings of arms for the 1^st vol. Tour in Wales. to prevent y^r book from being too thick had we not best put two ^arms on a leaf with the figures of the pages neatly put on by the skilful hand of Moses?

There is no saying what expence will be incurred by ornamenting the journey to London. I fear not half that of the Tour in Wales, for I cannot get materials sufficient. Moses thinks that with wife & family (for there is lately a little Moses produced) He should get his 7^s a day and even by that he will not get half that a London artist does. but his work will be considerably cheaper. But you shall have no reason to quarrel with him. Please to tell your friend that the arms He will charge 16^d each. the large drawings about 16^s. the Book itself of which the only tCopies printed (twelve in all) only the price of the small paper. all 12 are his perquisite, which I wish y^r friends to understand.

my Paper the London Chronicle brings such a strange farrago of Politics as almost turn my head & stagger my belief. the demands of America in article 8. must be a blunder of the news writer; I hope.¹ But the strangest account is the return of Lord North into ministry.² If true what a proof of his integrity & abilities! I cannot but feel some anxiety till old England is secure: I hap^ly [sic] have amusements that serve to alleviate part of the trouble & drive away for a time gloomy thoughts.

I remain with truest regard
Dear Sir
Y ^rs most faithfully

Tho. Pennant.

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Editorial notes

1. This may refer to the discussions carried out during informal talks in Paris in April 1782, which led to official negotiations for peace in July 1782 and to the signing of definitive articles of peace on 3 September 1783. Robert Middlekauff, The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789 (rev. and expanded edn.; Oxford: OUP, 2005), pp. 592–5. For the text of the 'Preliminary and Conditional Articles of Peace' see Samuel Flagg Bemis, The Diplomacy of the American Revolution (1935; reprint edn., Bloomington, Ind., 1957), pp. 259–64.
2. Lord North resigned as prime minister on 20 March 1782. He did not return into office until February 1783, when a coalition between his party and that of Charles James Fox brought down the ministry of Lord Shelburne, but the formation of this coalition was considered likely from July 1782. ODNB s.n. Fredrick North, second earl of Guilford [known as Lord North] (1732–1792).
3. The second section of the postmark is in ink.