Ditto condemned in the House of Commons

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To B.Bishop G.Gordon
“March 15. 1774.
Your extraordinary
Favor of the 28 ult.ultimo mense I cannot sufficiently ac-
knowledge, many having been gratified with
the Perusal of it, all of them declaring, that
such a Paper has not appeared since the
memorable 88. I transcribed a Copy, &and sent
it to Lady Gask, who had much Need of some
such Entertainment, her Sister, Mrs Mary
Nairn, the Elect Lady, having lately died
with her; upon which writing a Letter of
Condolence to her Ladyship, I thought
fit to call another Cause, by subjoining a
Copy of the Curiosity, which would prove
a very seasonable Dose of Medicine after
the mournful Event. I have not yet heard
from that honest Lady in Return, but I look
for ~~the~~ some few Lines every Post.

The Collector of News for the Caledo-
nian Mercury, Geo.George Reid by Name, &and one
of us, came to me, &and received the strange
Thing with Pleasure, &and had no Doubt about
falling upon a Way to introduce it with
Safety into their Paper. When he returned
home, Robertson, the Master, tho’though a Whig,
ordered it to be printed, as one of the 2010 (2010)
greatest Rarities he had ever seen. In a
Word, most of the Types were set when luck-
ily Reid thought of looking into the Jour-
nal of the House of Commons, where he
found, “Ordered, that the Attorney General
“shall prosecute the Printer &and Sellers of
“such a Paper, &andc.” This put a Stop to the
Publication. Mr Reid returned the rare
Piece to me, regretingregretting, that the Issue of
the Prosecution had not yet happened; for,
in that Event, they might have hit upon
a Way to have inserted it into their Paper.
However, he intreatedentreated, the Paper might
not be offered to any other Press, as they
still hope for a favourable Opportunity
to do as intended. I promised, that none
other should have it but themselves.
Meantime, I must earnestly beg of you,
Dear Sir, to send me every such Rarity,
that comes in the Way; &and do you put the
Spur to Bob Keith for Franks.1 Such
Things prove Cordials here; &and who
knows, but, in due Time, they may work
a Cure?

Some of the highest Government-Folks
hereabouts begin to speak out uncom-
mon Thoughts, such as, That Matters are
now in such a Situation, that Britain must
suffer some severe Convulsion or other!

Ah for George Smith! Quantum mu-
tatus ab illo? Such a Grandmother, &and
to be so used! Such Friends, &and to be so
neglected! I am afraid, London has made
a Change upon him to the worse; for
when in Scotland, ~~&and~~ ^a more sweet-blooded
&and advisable Youth did not exist. Perhaps,
the Accession to his Fortune has done 2011 (2011)
him no Good. For,

When Plenty flows, we good Advice despise.

‘Tis Want, that Sharpens Thought, &and makes us wise.

Had he been dependent in statu quo, he
would readily have been more observant &and sub-
missive. Mean timeMeantime, I heartily join with you in
saying We must hope the best. I will not
quit my hold of him, till his Conduct ex-
plain the Contrary, which would truly
give me Pain. May God preserve him
from every instance of Tergiversation; and
may he prove a worthy Descendant of such a
Father, such a Grandfather &and Grandmother. If con-
venient, be so good as to wish the young Pair
all Joy &and Happiness in the Name of me and
mine. But in this, Sir, You are to do, as you
judge most proper.

Person	Robert Forbes
Date	15 Mar 1774
Place
Place

Person	Bishop Gordon
Place	London