18 Oct 1791. LETTER BY SIR PHILIP MUSGRAVE TO HIS STEWARD. Letter sent by Sir Philip MUSGRAVE from his residence at Kempton Park, Middlesex, to his steward Jonathan OLDMAN at Edenhall. The transcription of a contemporary article from The Times is added to explain Sir Philip’s remark about Lord THANET. C. 82. R. 2. Sir Ph: MUSGRAVE Cash 50 ~ 0 ~ 0 ————————————— 11th. Octr. 1791. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. OLDMAN I received Yours of the 10th. Inst. with a Bill for 50£: dated 11th. & the Quarterly account to Mic~mas last, which will fully satisfy all my demands till Janry: so you need send me nothing before. But I shall expect in your next letter the rent roll for 1792 the Abstract of last years account, the Insupers &c as last year, & I shall write to you again under a Cover on the 25th: Inst: I am sorry to tell you from pretty good authority that Lord THANET has suffer’d so much from Play this Summer & borrow’d so much money that He is return’d to the Continent without apparent intentions of returning soon, it is lucky for me that no misfortune of this kind is likely to happen in my family —- I think I have not receiv’d from you the Septennial Lease I intended for DAWSON & FAWCET, for Hartley Collieries, which I shall expect when ready, & return in due time executed —- Fodder Straw tho so excessively dear, as I have told you ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ has rose since a fourth part, so I suppose soon none will be to be had, the farmers not caring to part with it on any terms —- I am well stock’d with Hay — But that makes no Dung. The Weather is broken here, but not much rain hath yet fallen. I am glad to hear your Husbandry affairs seem to go on better, Wheat is the only thing reasonable this year, I am much as usual, & remain Yours &c Kempton Park [signed] Phil MUSGRAVE 18th: Oc: 1791 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Times, Thursday, Aug 25, 1791; pg. 2; Issue 2111; col B Lord THANET has lately been caned out of 900 guineas, which has been divided among the knowing ones at the Tennis Court, where the business was begun. The matter was thus; – his Lordship piqued himself much on his skill at billiards, and was bragging of his abilities. Charles DAVIS said, he would play for any sum against him, and instead of a cue or mace, use only the cane he then held in his hand, and which he bent round his body several times. The match was made, – DAVIS, who is, or at least was, the best player in England, led his Lordship on in a masterly manner, until he got from him nine hundred guineas. – This is not the first gentleman DAVIS has thus caned out of his property.