Dec. 6, 1709.
"Sir,
"Yours I received, and am very glad to hear that yourself and my
lady is in so good health. I hope in a short time Mr. Radcliffe will
be so too. He is recovered; but he had such a severe fever that he
continues weak still. My Lord Derwentwater and his brother"
(Francis) "and Mr. Fenwick, are all come safe from Holland, and are
very well, and we shall drink your health together this night. He
intends to be with you very speedily in the country. I do not doubt
that you will extremely like his conversation: for he has a great
many extraordinary good qualities, and I do not doubt but he will be
as well beloved as his uncle. My most humble service to your lady
and the rest of the good family, and I wish you a merry Christmas;
and that I might be so happy as to take a share of it with you,
would be a great satisfaction to him who is your most obliged and
most faithful, humble servant,
"JOHN RADCLIFFE."
The next letter is from Sir William Swinburne to his lady; in this he
speaks of the pleasure with which Lord Derwentwater had returned to
Dilstone, the seat of his ancestors, which he was, in so few short
years, to forfeit.