"_For the Right Honourable the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, these;
at Chelsea._
"_London, the 17th July, 1654._
"May it please your Lordship,
"I sent this morning to receive your moneys at the Custom-house, and
they say there is no more due to your Lordship than £750 for three
terms, as is expressed in the receipt enclosed, which they have
made. I would not receive it until I knew your pleasure, which, if
this sum doth agree with what is your due, you may please to put
your name to the enclosed receipt from them, and it will be paid in
the morning. The order also I send back, that you may please to take
off your name from it and send it again by the bearer.
"In the morning we shall work upon the ship, and I shall wait on the
Committee at Whitehall, for the custom and excise of the copper to
be free, which will come to £240. I hope I shall prevail, and shall
always remain
"Your Lordship's humble servant,
"SAMUEL WILSON."
There was a mistake by the Commissioners of the Customs about my money,
which I rectified, and had the £1000 paid to my brother Wilson for my
use. Touching the copper, I at length contracted with Major G.
Disborough, who bought it for the Protector, and gave me £2500 for it,
which was justly paid unto me; and the copper was employed to make brass
ordnance for the ships, and was excellent good, and no ill bargain.
[SN: Mr. Henry Elsing.]
I received a letter from Mr. Henry Elsing, late Clerk of the
Parliament, and the best clerk in my judgement that ever I knew, to take
the sense of the House and put it in apt terms. He was an excellent
scholar,--had the Italian, French, and Latin languages; a very honest and
ingenious man, and fitter for much better employment than to be Clerk of
the Parliament. He was my faithful and kind friend, and I owe very much
of affection and gratitude to the memory of this worthy gentleman. He was
in great and deserved favour of the House of Commons, and gave over his
place because he would not meddle in the business about the trial of the
King. He often invited Mr. Selden and me together to his house to dinner,
where we had great cheer, and greater learning in excellent discourse,
whereof himself bore a chief part. I was the more frequent with him,
being godfather to one of his sons, and Mr. Selden the other godfather,
which brought us two the oftener together to his house, to see our
godson; and even in such meetings as these I gained very much of
knowledge from the most learned and rational discourses of Mr. Selden.