448 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
from home att present. I long to know how my mother has perform'd her journey, which, if she has had her health, must I'm [sure?] be very agreable to her. I heartily wish I cou'd share in your diversions att Stainborough, but all 1 can do is to wish that they may not be interrupted by ill health or ill weather. I'm sure everything else will be good.
I can send your Lordship no manner of news, but that the stocks have sunk a little of late ; I don't know for what reason, but there is no doubt of their reviving again very soon. I am, &c.
London, August 30, 1720. My dear Lord,
I was in hopes your Lordship wou'd have come up to town att this time which considering the great concerns you have in money wou'd surely have been very proper. Mine are extreamly inconsiderable in comparison to your Lord- ship's, and yet I find itt very prejudicial to me to be long out of the way. My brother Ben is come from Richkings this morning where he brought my mother last night. They are all very well after their journey and extream full of the enjoyments of Stainborough. I don't in the least wonder att itt, for I know your Lordship can make any place agreable, but Stainborough is in itt self a very delightfull place in Summer. I will not contend what itt is in winter, for I reckon no place good in that season but London. Those are my present thoughts, but I won't answer how long I shall remain in those sentiments ; and that I may have a place of retire- ment ready against I find an inclination for itt, I am preparing matters in Glostershire to make up a Hermitage, and since your Lordship was once so good to take up a lodging with me att Paltry-town {sic) I hope I may have the honour of seeing you there when itt is finisht. I go into Glostershire next week and shall be back again before Michaelmas, and I must beg to know when I may hope to see your Lordship in town. All I can inform your Lordship of att present from hence is that there has been a hard struggle to keep the Stocks up, and if they rise after the books are shutt, which is
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