After learning the opinion entertained by Mr. Hancock of his estate, its situation, prospect, and capacities, and understanding his intentions in regard to its improvement, as expressed in his first letter to Glin,--it may naturally be expected that we shall come upon some further allusions to the works he had thus taken in hand, in the antiquated volume before us. In this respect, as we turn over its remaining pages, we shall find that we are not to be disappointed. His letters on the subject, addressed to persons on the other side of the water, and particularly to the trusty Wilks, are, in fact, for the space of the next three or four years, most refreshingly abundant. Some of these are so minute, characteristic, and interesting, that we shall need no apology for transcribing them, most literally, here. On June 24th, 1737, he had written to Wilks,--
"This waites on you per M'r Francis Pelthro who has Taken this Voyage to Lond'o. in order to be Cutt for y'e Stone by D'r. Cheselden;[8] he Is my Friend & a Very honest Gentleman. In case he needs your advise in any of his affairs & _Calls on you for it_, I beg y'e fav'r of you to do him what Service falls in your way, which Shall Take as done to my Self, and as he's a Stranger, Should he have occasion for Ten Guineas please to Let him have it & Charge to my Acco't. I suppose he's sofficeint with him--Except Some Extrordinary accidant happen.
"I beg your particular Care about my Glass, that it be the best, and Every Square Cutt Exactly to the Size, & not to worp or wind in the Least, & Pack't up So that it may take no Damage on the passage,--it's for my Own Use & would have it Extrordinary. I am S'r
By one of those stupid accidents,--not, as we are sorry to record, altogether unknown to the business of house-building in our own day,--the memorandum previously sent for the glass turned out to be entirely incorrect. In less than a fortnight after, Mr. Hancock accordingly hastens to countermand his order, as follows:--
"S'R,--Sheperdson's Stay being Longer than Expected Brings me to the 5'th of July, and if you have not bought my Glass According to the Demention per Cap't. Morris I Pray you to have no regard to those, but the following viz.