150.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Beriton, 21st of October, 1772.
To quit a subject now become a matter of curiosity, I shall only say
that in this country the Hampshire Gentleman is supposed to have
lett his farm exceedingly high, and that on every side he hears
compliments from the Gentlemen and clamours from the Farmers. He
did not _sneakingly conceal, &c._ The Tenant pays for the seeds, the
Fallows were given him, from the opinion of Hugonin, &c., who agreed
that they were very ill made. But now, hark forward.
The Gosling's impatience will I fear hurry us very unpleasantly.
Their proposal of _the New River_ share would not suit in any
respect. It brings in at least £260 pr. annum, yearly encreasing, and
must, I should think, as freehold be worth thirty years' purchase;
call it £8000. The average (for it varies prodigiously) of _the
Copper share_ is under £100. I cannot think it would sell for more
than £1500. When that was done, instead of a surplus of Money, I
should find myself possessed of two Landed Estates, with at least
£7000 mortgage on one of them, and for a time totally disabled from
buying a house or forming any plans of life, for a great deal of the
farm stock must go towards paying a variety of middling debts of my
most careless Father, which it was unnecessary to trouble you with.
So that scheme will never answer. I tell my Fleet Street friends that
if it will be very inconvenient to them to allow me another year,
or even to stay the Winter, I must endeavour to get their Mortgage
transferred for a twelfmonth to some other Person, which cannot be
done without trouble and expence. In either case we must act with
vigour. I am so far from chusing to _sell under 30 years' purchase_
(a bare £20,000 without Manor, &c.) that I think _that a very sorry
price: They are still at old Rents. Why cannot we try an auction of
the whole_ before we divide? _I wish to see you, and think Denham_
a good place of Rendez-vous: But before I can get from hence, carry
Mrs. G. to Bath, and traverse to Bucks, it will grow _towards the
10th of November_. Will that do? To another man, I should talk
nonsense about trouble, obligation, gratitude, &c. &c. To you, I only
say, If I can't meet you at Denham, _take R. Way with you_, carve
Lenborough and let the Deed itself serve you for a reward. I have had
another letter from Harris: not a word _about Lord V._ But he speaks
of _Mr. Monkeith_, a rich man who liked the Estate, and objected only
to the Poor's tax. I desired he would give him my direction at the
Cocoa Tree, and inform that that objection was removed. Adieu. _You
do not say_ a word about Mrs. H. I hope she is better.