ivered to Barrois, with notice that it could not be left longer
with him than should suffice to strike off his number. Repeated
applications for it by Mr. Short and my servant were only answered by
repeated promises and times of delivery fixed, no one of which was
performed. When I returned, he had been possessed of the plate upwards
of two months. I was astonished and confounded to be told it had not
been sent to Stockdale, and that his edition had been lying dead on his
hands three months. I sent to Barrois the very day of my return, to let
him know, that justice to Stockdale did not permit me to defer sending
him the plate any longer, yet I would wait five days, at the end of
which he must deliver me the plate, whether his maps were done or not.
I received no answer, but waited ten days. I then sent for the plate.
The answer was, he was not at home. I sent again the next day. Answer,
he was not at home. I sent the third day. Not at home. I then ordered
the messenger to go back, and wait till he should come home. This
produced an answer of two lines, _qu'il alloit soigner son ouvrier_? I
wrote him word in return to deliver the plate instantly. This I think
was on Saturday or Sunday. He told the messenger he would let me have
it the Thursday following. I took patience, and sent on the Friday, but
telling the messenger if he refused to deliver it, to inform him I
would be plagued no more with sending messages, but apply to the
police. He then delivered it, and I sent it off immediately to London.
He had kept it three months, of which three weeks were after my return.
I think, Sir, you will be satisfied that justice to Stockdale, justice
to myself who had passed my word for sending on the plate, and
sensibility to the shuffling conduct of Barrois, permitted me to act no
otherwise. But no matter. Let his ill behavior make no odds between you
and me. It will affect your interest, and that suffices to determine me
to order back the plate as soon as Stockdale has done with it. He will
not require more days than Barrois months, so that it will be here
before you can want it. But it must never go into Barrois' hands again,
nor of any person depending on him, or under his orders. The workman
who struck off the two hundred and fifty for me seems to have been
diligent enough. Either he, or any other workman you please of that
description, shall have it to strike what number you wish. I forgot to
observe, in its proper place, that w