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To Richard Gough, Esq.

Whittington, March 17, 1796.

Dear Sir,

There are no persons in the world to whom so much regard is due, respecting my late Father's Collections in the literary line, as to yourself and Mr. Nichols. I daily see obligations, from Books which you have respectively conferred upon him, which call for every acknowledgement. I am as daily concerned in looking over papers of various kinds; and will preserve them all sacredly, and report upon them when I return to Town, which must be in May or June.

I am labouring to keep possession of this house as long as I can, and believe I shall be amply indulged; a circumstance which will enable me to pay every attention to what may be of real use to my Father's Friends: for, as Botanists allow nothing to be weeds, so I admit nothing to be waste paper.

What I write to you I mean should be said to Mr. Nichols, with every kind remembrance. I have only to desire that I may be considered (by descent at least) as

Your obliged Friend,

S. Pegge.

To Mr. Deputy Nichols.

Whittington, March 30, 1796.

Dear Sir,

A peck of March dust is said to be worth a King's ransom;—and to you (who know this house) I may say that I am enveloped in as much dust[60] as would ransom an Emperor. I shall be in Town at the end of May at the farthest, and would wish to work double tides in the History of Beauchief-Abbey while I stay; for I shall find it necessary to pass as long a Summer as I can here, where (by the new Rector's leave) I hope to continue till the approach of Winter.

S. Pegge.

Whittington, April 12, 1796.

Dear Sir,

I am really so much engaged (for I am not half through my Herculean labour) that I have not leisure to think of my late nearest Friend, so as to erect any memorial in the Gentleman's Magazine at present.

I have written to Lord Leicester and to Mr. Topham by this post, to request that I may be hung up, according to Law, at the Society of Antiquaries, in hopes of being honourably cut down, and receiving Christian Burial. The Director[61], I trust, will appear to character when my Trial comes up. God send me a good deliverance! What I write to you, I write to Mr. Gough also through you.

Your obliged Friend, &c.

S. Pegge.

To George Allan, Esq. Darlington.

Whittington, May 2, 1796.

Sir,

In the course of the last year my late Father (Rev. Dr. Pegge) among other Books made me a present off "The Northumberland Household Book;" which he told me (as I since find by his memoranda) was lent to you. I take the liberty of wishing to have it returned soon, directed to my Friend Mr. Nichols.

I have heard my Father often speak of you, Sir, with much respect, and I shall always honour my Father's Friends. I am, &c.

S. Pegge.

Whittington, May 23, 1796.

Sir,

I thank you for the favour of your Letter, which was anticipated by a line from Mr. Nichols, advising me that "The Northumberland Household Book" was safe in his hands. The honourable mention I hear of my late Father, almost every day, is very gratifying to me, though I know it is not undeserved on his part. As to Mr. Brander's Print of my father, I have a very few in London; and one of the best of them shall be at your service. I cannot think the Print in the least like my Father; but I have a Painting[62] which is a very strong resemblance.

Your very obedient humble servant,

S. Pegge.

To Mr. Nichols.

Whittington, July 28, 1796.

Dear Sir,

We left London on Monday the eleventh; but did not make Whittington till last Sunday the 24th inst. We passed part of Wednesday the 13th, and all the 14th and 15th, at Southwell, with the new Rector of Whittington, and had a very pleasurable visit. We next touched at Spital, and as we thought only for three or four days, but were detained there by contrary winds, which blew us into parties of company and venison.

I am, dear Sir, yours very sincerely,

S. Pegge.

York, Sunday, Sept. 11, 1796.

Dear Sir,

Where and when this will find you, whether in Urban or in Sylvan scenes, I know not: but the purport of it is to desire that you would send me (to Whittington) the last Impression of the Family Pedigree of Bourne.

Whether you ever insert it in your Leicestershire or not, I wish to have it completed, as far as may be, from my own connexion with it; and because I know that every difficulty is doubled to every succeeding generation. The Historian of Leicestershire must have had repeated experience of this circumstance in his investigations.

Yours, &c.

S. Pegge.

Scotland yard, Feb. 20, 1797.

Dear Sir,

I am now going seriously to work, to bring the Coins forward by auction. The whole collection amounts in number to between 1100 and 1200; but of what value the hammer must determine.

S. Pegge.

June 10, 1797.

Dear Sir,

Mr. Gough was so obliging as to mention hopes of seeing us at Enfield; and I have been for several days on the point of writing to him a line of thanks, and to express the willingness of the spirit, and the weakness of the flesh; for, alas! I have got as much gout as will last me till we go into Derbyshire in the second week in July. In this situation it would be much to the honour of your humanity to come and pass an evening with us. I am sure to be found at home.

S. P.

Scotland yard, June 18, 1797.

Dear Sir,

I hope this will find you safely returned from your excursion, and disengaged, as I wish you to pass a long evening with me. Mr. Bowyer Nichols would tell you that I am now at leisure to go on with "Beauchief Abbey" for a little while; but without your assistance, know not how. Send me word what evening you can best spare, and bring your Son with you, and let it be very speedily. I shall soon put an end to the Session, and this Printing-ment will be prorogued to the 5th of October, then to meet for dispatch of business.

S. Pegge.

December 7, 1797.

Dear Sir,

As you are connected with the Representatives of Dr. Farmer, or the person who acts for them, I wish you would procure a receipt for a copy of Skelton, which was found in my Father's collection after his death, and which was evidently Mr. Farmer's property.

As I hear that Dr. Farmer's Library is intended for sale, I should be glad that this book might be soon restored to the Executors; and my original wish to return it, may appear from a letter of mine to Dr. Farmer, dated so long ago as the 4th of February last, which has probably been found among his papers. I received no answer to it, which I imputed to his then bad state of health.

Yours, &c.

S. Pegge.

Harrowgate, Aug. 25, 1799.

Dear Sir,

Our history, since I saw you, is briefly this. We left London on the 18th of July, and made a journey of three days to Spital, near Chesterfield. After resting there, for as many days, we set off for this place, which we found very full, and made our quarters good at the humblest house we could find; but with the most comfortable accommodations that a very uncomfortable place can afford; and are reconciled to our situation. We dine (en masse) about 20 on the average, keep good hours, and are not pestered with gamblers, ladies-maids, or lap-dogs. In some houses they dine 120 people!!!

The water of this place is a very strong sulphur, and I believe, is the most powerful of any in the kingdom. The most quiet of this sort of houses is much too turbulent for me; besides that it is difficult for one who cannot walk, or even saunter about, as others do, to fill up the chasms between meals, except by reading, which is scarcely practicable here. I find myself, however, tolerably habituated to noise and talk; and as to the art of doing nothing, I have made myself perfectly master of it. As a proof of it, I have been three weeks in writing this letter.

If you ask me how I do? I answer, I don't know at present. I have experienced much non-valescence, and am told con-valescence will follow.

S. Pegge.

Monday, January 27, 1800.

Dear Sir,

The Lady[63] mentioned in the enclosed Article is my Niece, who hopes to open the Ball in the List of Marriages in this Month. I send also an article for the Obituary[64], the death of a Brother of my Wife, and whose death has long been expected. I am a lodger in my own first-floor, with some gout, which will neither lead nor drive; but I should be very happy to receive a charitable visit of chat in any evening that you can spare. I do not ask Mr. Bowyer Nichols, as I cannot encounter more than one person at a time.

Your very sincere friend,

S. Pegge.

March 17, 1800.

Dear Sir,

Presuming that you are returned from Hinckley, and have nothing in the world to do, I hope you will give us your company in an evening very soon; for at that time of the day I see nobody else. Let me hear by one of your Representatives in Parliament[65] on what evening I may expect you, that I may rectify my spirits accordingly.

Adieu!

S. Pegge.