in being there. For my part I should with Satisfaction Spend the remainder of my Days there without Seeing any other, and I can't at all agree wh you in the politeness of our Two Neighbouring Towns." (Battle and Rye, I suppose, are meant Editor.)
1st May, 1742. Mr. Collier from Hastings to Mrs. Collier in London. "Dame Arthur was about one a clock Whipp'd at the Carts Tayll round the Town, and had Some Strokes at every lanes End, but I find its thought she had-not half enough, but I inclined to mercy and compassion, and Considered the long time of her confinement in the Cold Weather."
1st June, 1742 Mr. Collier to Mrs. Collier from London, " T. Green and I went to see Mr. Garrick. The play was Richard the Third, King Richard by Garrick. The Justest, Finest Actor I ever saw." (Ranelagh and Vauxhall are also mentioned, and the celebrated Comick Dancer Signor Grimaldi Editor.)
In January, 1743 Miss Cordelia Collier to her Mother from Battle Abbey, where she was staying with Lady Webster requesting her Mother to acceed to her Ladyship's wish to keep her longer.
Same date. Miss Mary Collier at Battle to her Mother at Hastings " Hon. Madam, My Sister Worge begs ye favour of you to send three or four pickled Herrings tomorrow by Palmer to make Sollomungundy for ye Ball, which is next Monday, and the Captain talks of having bis Ball some time next week, and if he does, believe it will be a Friday, so hope you will be good as to let us stay till Saturday, but we hope to see my Papa at the Market (Battle) where we can We settle that. Our Ball at ye Abbey was very agreeable. We broke up between five and six in ye morning, and I staid and lay with my Sister Delia, which was much more comfortable than mounting ye hill after dancing. This evening we are all invited to spend at Miss Smith's, but ye gentlemen are gone to Mr. Nicholl's to dinner, so believe we shan't have their company . . . We stayd evening a Tuesday at ye Abbey, and My Lady is prodigious civil to us. Jenny joins with me in duty to my Papa and yourself."
[Cordelia, the eldest daughter, appears to have been at Battle Abbey, and Mary and Jane with their half-sister, Mrs. Worge. Editor.]
About this date letters were passing between the Duke of Newcastle and his brother, Mr. Pelham, then Prime Minister, and Mr. Collier, at Hastings, in reference to an intended invasion, and a French Fleet cruising on the British Coast, with instructions to employ proper persons to keep a look out for its movements and report their movements, and Mr. Collier's reply that " we had taken all precautions against surprise."
[It appears that there were some troops quartered at Hastings about this time, and were billetted on the inhabitants which was considered a great burden upon them.]
12th April, 1744 Mr. Collier, at Hastings, to Mrs. Collier, in London. "I must write something abt our Declaration of -
