À propos--I thought of the Arabic MS., but had almost forgot to tell you that Gilbert of Lewes was with me this morning. He has discovered the owner of the Tythes, an Attorney--Mr. Charles Down of Hythe, where he is at present, but who lives in town.
I fear to put the Saint to any expence, and remembered what you said of negotiating in person. Therefore agreed that when Gilbert comes to London next month, we would see Down together; in the interim--silence. But if you think not a moment should be lost, I can by a line despatch Gilbert to Hythe.
[275] Thomas Hutchinson, Governor of Massachusetts, and Andrew Oliver, Lieutenant-Governor, had corresponded with a private friend in England, Thomas Whately, formerly secretary to George Grenville. Their letters were purloined and placed in the hands of Franklin, who sent copies to the House of Assembly of Massachusetts. The House petitioned for their recall in consequence of the language they had used in these letters. The petition was dismissed by the Privy Council. Hutchinson, however, returned home early in 1774. He had already published (1764-68) two volumes of his _History of the Colony of Massachusetts_. He died in 1789, at the age of seventy-eight. The third volume of his history was published from his manuscripts in 1828.
[276] The work in question is _La verdadera Hystoria del rey Don Rodrigo: compuesta por Abulcacim Tarif Abentarique_. Nuevamente traduzida de la lengua Arabiga por M. de L[una]. In two parts. Granada, 1592-1600, 8vo. It was really written by Miguel de Luna, and, as Gibbon points out, the Arabic MS. is imaginary. The book was translated into English as _The Life of Almanzor_, translated into Spanish by M. de Luna. London, 1693. 8vo.
[277] Probably a nephew of Mr. Benjamin Way, of Denham, Mrs. Holroyd's brother, who married Miss Elizabeth Cooke.
My poor friend died last Monday, and has left me--together with Mr. Skipwith--his Executors and Trustees, a very painful and perhaps thankless office. You will easily suppose that the shock, however expected, and the hurry of melancholy business, have swallowed up the remembrance of any lesser disappointment, and indeed engross all my thoughts. The Holroyds dine with me to-morrow.--You will be so kind as to excuse the Christmas draught for a week or ten days at farthest.