here, and it is not as I apprehend
material whether it be the first week of this month or of the next,
I have submitted to those who desire to govern me in this matter,
and that is in regard to Luggershall. My lawyers and Mr. T.
Townshend,(122) who is the heir of entail to that estate, have
entreated me not to omit any longer the holding what they call a
Court Leet.

Mr. Grenville's Bill, as I apprehended that it would, has made it
very dangerous to omit any forms which the law prescribes, and the
failure of what I am enjoined as lord of the manor to do by the
charter would certainly be very prejudicial upon an enquiry, and
perhaps lay me open to an opposition, which could never be made to
my interests or property there without such negligence.

For this reason I must either postpone my journey to Castle H(oward)
till after that, or make my stay there if I go before too short.
This is my present arrangement, which, however important it may be
represented to be, should be altered if I could be essentially
useful to you or to your affairs by it. I beg that you will not omit
to acquaint Mr. Gregg with this, who will see immediately the
necessity of it.

I could indeed have set out as I originally intended so as to have
met you upon your return, and should have done it if I could have
prevailed upon M(arch?) to have allowed me to do what I am now
doing, by which I flatter myself to bring about what will be in many
respects of use to that little infant, who has very little thought
bestowed upon her but by my means. It is a sore grievance to me, but
it is my lot and I must endure it.

My excursions to town are not above once in six days. On Saturday
last on my return hither I was indeed very near demolished. My
coachman thought fit to run for the turnpike, as the phrase is, and
against a four-wheeled waggon with six horses. He seemed to me to
have very little chance of carrying his point, if it was not to
demolish me and my chaise, but almost sure of succeeding in that. I
called, roared, and scolded to no purpose, il ne daigna pas
m'ecouter un instant: so the consequence was, what might be
expected, he came with all the force imaginable against the turnpike
gate, (and) set my chaise upon its head. Mr. Craufurd was with me,
and on the left side, which was uppermost, and we were for a small
space of time lying under the horses, at their mercy, and the
waggoner's, who seemed very much inclined to whip them on, and from
on