May 24th, 1796.
MY DEAR LORD,

Having received no answer to my last letter, I persuade myself
there was nothing in it to displease you; otherwise your general
politeness and your kind partiality to me would have led you to
give me such instructions as might prevent me from falling into
errors in the delicate business in which, under your countenance
and with your approbation, I have engaged myself.

We look forward with a pleasure, mixed with some degree of
impatience, to the visit which your Lordship and Lady Buckingham
have flattered us with the hope of, though I am afraid the heat of
the general election will be over before we can enjoy that
satisfaction.

I think, however unfortunate I may find myself in all my attempts
to please the Bishop of Leon, that your Lordship and Lady
Buckingham will feel the same pleasing and affecting interest in
what is done here, that all have been touched with who see what is
going on. You will be pleased with the celerity, if not with the
perfection, of our work. Five-and-forty beds are ready; the rest
will be so in a very few days. An old bad stable is converted into
an excellent school-room. The chapel is decent, in place and in
furniture. The eating-room is reasonably good. Twenty-five boys are
received, clad in a cleanly and not unpleasing manner, and they are
fed in an orderly way, with a wholesome and abundant diet. The
masters are pleased with their pupils; the pupils are pleased with
their preceptors; and I am sure I have reason to be pleased with
them all. I see them almost every day, and at almost all hours; as
well at their play as at their studies and exercise. I have never
seen finer boys, or more fit for the plan of education I mean to
follow for them, as long as it pleases the Government to continue
that charge in my hands. I am responsible, that if they are left to
me for six months, a set of finer lads, for their age and standing,
will not be seen in Europe.

The only unfortunate part of the business is, that some of them
speak not a word of English, and they who are the most forward in
it are very imperfect. There is but one of the masters who can be
said to know anything of it, and he is far indeed from the ability
to teach it. There must be a person who, besides going with th