The King of Prussia taking particular Notice of Bob Keith at a Review at Berlin. 1774.

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2030 (2030)
From B.Bishop G.Gordon
“London, June 13. 1774.
I am greatly obliged to you for both your last.
The inclosedenclosed for Mr Oliphant was duly deli-
vered, &and luckily before he set out for Wim-
bleton, where he &and his Lady &and Miss were
going to stay for a Week, in order to be in
Quiet, &and refresh themselves before they
enter upon their long Journey northward;
for they had had a tedious Voyage, of
no less than 6 Weeks from Seville; in
Which poor Mrs Oliphant had suffer’dsuffered a
good deal, but, thanks be to God, I
thought she seemed to [] be recover-
ing before they set out for the Country.
They are to be in the House of one of the
Mr Drummonds at Wimbleton. I hope
to see them again before they set out
for Scotland. May God grant you all an
happy &and joyful Meeting. Before I pro-
ceed farther I must thank you for the
Royal-Oak. A young Lady of my Ac-
quaintance is to sing it, accompanied
with MusickMusic.

I hope to have it in my power in a
little Time to send you more Prints;
for my most respectable Friend, since
I had yours, sends me word, in his most
gracious Way, that there are more upon
the Road coming to me. Mrs Strange
tells me, She has not now got one
left. I am pleased to hear so good an
Account of the South-Britons, &and
thank you for the Copy you sent me,
which I gave to a worthy Gentle-
man of your Acquaintance; who was
greatly pleased with it, &and put it into
his Daughter’s Hand to read it to her
Mamma. No Prosecution is commen-
ced2031(2031)
ced here, nor likely to be. ‘Tis an Edged
Tool, &and they don’t care to handle it
rashly in the Courts of Law, not with-
standing a loud Bluster in a certain
place, not the most ~~forward~~ celebrated
for Wisdom in all their Proceedings.
No Rarity of this Kind has lately
fallen in my Way; but when there
does, you may depend upon having it.

Alas! poor Mr Brett. I shall
leave a Declaration behind me, declaring
my utter Dislike of his MS.Manuscript as containing mat-
ter contrary to the Doctrine &and Principles
of the CatholickCatholic Church, &and the deprived
Church of England in particular. I pur-
pose seeing him face to face before this
Month be at an End; for I go down
(God willing) to do an Office for his
Children, who at present have no Con-
cern in a certain Affair; &and may God, of his
gracious Goodness, turn aside the present
Intentions of ~~the~~ ^a Father, consulting the
Interests of a loose &and profligate World
more than his own &and their everlasting
Well-being! Pray, did Mr Bowdler
ever know any Thinganything of this Corres-
pondence between you &and Mr Brett? No,
No; Mr Bowdler &and his excellent Lady
are not to be moved by poor Mr Brett’s
stale Arguments. The ConvenienciesConveniences
of the World are not their Object in
Competition with weightier Matters.

No; I do not observe any such Forebod-
ings &and Rumours among us herem as you
speak of. We are all enervated, &and drunk
with the Height of Luxury &and Diversions,
&and no Fear of God left before our Eyes,
to restrain us from what we are prom-
pted2032(2032)
pted to by our corrupt Will &and Passions.
God in Mercy look upon us, &and turn
our Hearts to seek what is good, &and
to do Justice &and Judgment!

I have this Moment received a Let-
ter from Mr Brett, desiring my Visit
may be deferred for 5 or 6 Weeks; for
which I am not sorry, as Matters stand;
for I shall have more Time to pre-
pare for him. If I can, I will get a
Copy of his Doughty MS.Manuscript for you; but
then you will readily, Sir, be desired
to take the BurthenBurden upon you of writing
Observations or Remarks upon it.

Miss Keith has frequent Letters &and
Commissions from Potsdam. Her BroyrBrother
was at the late grand Review at Ber-
lin, when his Prussian MatyMajesty was pleas’dpleased
to do him the Honour of taking Notice
of him in person; which was not done
to any other of the British Officers,
tho’though there were several there, and
some of CaptnCaptain Keith’s own Regi-
ment. Won’t this make the little Man
look big, think you? Yet for all this,
he says, he wishes to be at home with
his Sister.

If a Vacancy should happen to be
amongst you, who would be most
likely, think you, to be elected?
for on that, I imagine, would our
Peace here in some measure depend.
For Envy &and Jealousy have unaccount-
able Workings. But, let us trust in God,
&and he will order all for the best.

Poor Mr Oliphant on his Return will
indeed 2033 (2033) indeed find a great Blank at Gask.
May God fill it up to him in abundant
Comfort!

My Wife joining in Respects &and all
good Wishes to yourself &and good
Mrs Forbes, I am, Dear Sir,
commending You &and all yours ever
to God &and his Keeping,

Your ever faithful Friend,
&and affectionate humble
Servant, RRobert GGordon

Person	Bishop Gordon
Date	13 Jun 1774
Place	London
Place