HESE TO SIR WILLIAM SWINBURNE AT CAPHEATON.

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.

TO MY LADY SWINBURNE, AT CAPHEATON.

Beaufort, 7th Feb. 1710.

"Dear Love!

"My Lord" (Derwentwater) "is very well pleased with Dilstone, and
says it answers all that he has heard of it: but is resolved to
build a new house, though Roger Fenwick told him he thought his
lordship need not alter a stone of it. Upon Thursday my lord dines
at Dilstone. Yours for ever,

"WILLIAM SWINBURNE.

"P.S. I understand my lord intends to be at Capheaton on Saturday,
and then upon Tuesday at Witton, and so for Widdrington. My lord's
leg is a little troublesome; but he intends to hunt the fox
to-morrow, and it is a rule all to be abed at ten o'clock the night.
Here is old Mr. Bacon and his son, Mr. Fenwick, of Bywell. My lord
killed a squirl, and Sir Marmaduke a pheasant or two, and myself
one, this morning--which is all, &c."

The following letter from Lord Derwentwater, to Lady Swinburne, shows
that the illness which occasioned so muc