At length the Buckinghamshire transaction is at an end. Lord T.,
after tormenting himself or me to very little purpose, absolutely
refused to give more than £19,000, but a Mr. Lovegrove, an
Oxfordshire man, who has made his own fortune, applied to Mr. Richard
Way, viewed the Estate, and after a long altercation agreed with me
at £20,000, and an excellent purchase he has made, though the weight
of interest, the importunity of the Goslings and the scarcity of
money oblige me to be satisfied with what I have been able to get
for it. By Michaelmas I shall be a clear, though a poor man; since,
when I have discharged the Mortgage and cancelled the bond which I
gave Mr. Scott for the Clarke's money, very little indeed that I can
call my own will remain of that noble estate. My only comfort, and
a very cold one, is that, though these incumbrances must be paid at
my expence, they were not contracted by my imprudence. But to leave
these melancholy reflections on a subject which is now irretrievable.
Newton will I believe send you down the Deed engrossed in a day or
two. The confidence, Dear Madam, which you express in me, pleases
without surprizing me, and I hope the business will be settled to
your satisfaction. Apropos you forget your half-year, which now at
least you must allow to be due. Do you chuse to draw upon me, or
shall I send you the money in Bank Notes?
By what I can collect at Spring Gardens, Mrs. E. will go into
Cornwall in a few days, but will not pass through Bath in her way.
Eliott stays something longer, but, as well as I can judge, the
beginning of August will suit them perfectly well. I therefore
still persist in my design of attending you about that time, and am
impatient to see both your new house and its owner. I wish you could
see how comfortable I am established in mine.
I am, Dear Madam,
Ever yours,
E. G.
[Sidenote: A VISIT FROM DEYVERDUN.]
172.
_To his Stepmother._
Bentinck Street, July 13th, 1773.