Letters – Thomas Blackett to John Wentworth – 18 Jan 1792

Dear Sir,

      I wish you both a happy & Merry new year and many of them and I heartily congratulate you for having the respectable benefit and honor of the Province of N. Scotia and wish you long to enjoy them, if a better does not offer, and as for your being obliged to return to N.S. I hope that voyage may be delay’d some time, that I may have the pleasure of returning your kind visit and serving you in London this year, but it has been generally known in England & other countrys that persons have been appointed to Governments and Places & Pensions, without ever or little attending, seeing or transacting any business appertaining or belonging thereunto, so that I hope that you may have your own will & pleasure to choose which country you like to live in best. Such is often the boasted freedom of the Noble Constitution of England where if you settle, you may easily manage to have an honourable seat in the House of Commons and then you may expect the honor of a visit from Mr Pitt, to consult the best manner to diminish the enormous debts of the Nation, which must be fine amusement and then to be made a Lord, so upon second thoughts what fine ideas to induce a man to live in England. Sophia sends her Compts to you both & is in great expectation of the Budget. I return you many thanks for the seeds, which I have given to my gardner with your directions for managing and planting – 

      By reading the public papers, it seems as is a real peace was settled in France & Germany, so that we may expect to be quiet in England, except in the two spacious houses in Westminster, which I suppose, you will attend now and then and I wish you would give me some descriptions of the Orators and their debates and I hope, some new members will begin to harangue, for I am tired of the old ones.

      The D[uche]ss of York has promoted so much conversation, that every body must wish to see every little thing about her. We have the size of her shoe here – in paint and Paper. -   Mr & Mrs Beaumont were very well at Naples and intended going to Rome for the winter. – I am obliged to you for your kind enquiries about my health, which is much better, so that I have company and ride out almost every day and dine in the hunting room below, which is warmer than the Saloon this cold changeable weather and now the Lakes are frozen. I expect next week Ld Macdonal & Sr. I. Sinclair who leaves his wife to attend the Nursery – My Compts. to Charles – If you see Mr. Bosville you may tell him that I have expected to see him here daily. Since a friend told me that he was coming soon – Mr John Milnes sends his Compts. and will call upon you soon in London – Miss Woods compts.

      I am, Dear Sir,	Your most Obedt. Humble Servant

      T. Blackett



Bretton Jany. 18th 1792