| Description | Sir,
Judging it necessary, I am induced to take the liberty of informing you a few particulars, in which you perhaps will be pleased to interfere, if time will permit.
Inclosed is an invoice of the vases Lord Gower kept out of those we sent for his inspection the 28th February. His Lordship ordered 28 March four gilt tripods with marble plinths, and said they must be sent in six weeks or sooner; that time is now nearly elapsed and the vases are done little at; Mr. Eginton informs you the reasons, &c. &c.
I made out Mrs. Pelham's invoice of the commode furniture, agreeable to your directions, the same as Mr. E. had charged it, and it was sent by post the 16th instant, intimating that no pains nor expence had been spared to execute and render them as rich as possible, both in workmanship and gilding, therefore flattered ourselves they wou'd be approved of and the charge deem'd but moderate. We also mentioned you were in town and where you might be heard of if Mrs. P. chused to see you respecting the ornaments, &c.
Lord Arundell by his letter of 15 March enquired the prices of some girandoles; we sent him a rough sketch and price, but have not yet heard from him. His Lordship also wanted to know the price of some very large candlesticks in ormoulu, 3 feet high, and said he had a model of wood for the same and wish'd some person in London (in our service) might view it, to which he was reply'd that we had scarce any idea of the price such large candlesticks would come to, as we could not judge of the expence of the ornaments, the gilding to[o], without seeing how richly decorated they are to be; and that, as our agent could not be of any service in viewing the model in respect to price, and therefore requested, if agreeable to him, to send it us by the waggon, and then we could be able to make a crude estimate and also how long we shou'd be in making six of them. As the wood model is not arrived, nor heard anything further respecting it, you'll please to act as you may think proper.
The two ingotts of silver we sent to Mr. Matthews the 10th instant to be assayed afresh, we have not received again.
Lady Morton's order of plate will now be finish'd and sent in a day or two.
For fear you should not have any memorandum to cause enquiries, &c., respecting the medals and dyes sent Colonel Pennington, I mention it; Mr. Dyott some time ago was furnish'd with particulars.
We have now in the warehouse several fine pretty sword hilts; perhaps you may think it worth while their being sent, if most of those already sent are disposed of.
I am much concerned that the plans for Mr. Vere cannot be found-more so, as the fault seems to lye at my door-but I assure you I have not the least remembrance that the large plan (while Mr. Scale describes) being deliver'd me, and he himself says he is not certain. I will continue to seek every where I can in hopes of yet finding them, tho' I despair.
I remain with the utmost respect, sir, your much obliged and most obedient humble servant,
John Hodges
[Edited transcript.] |