Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

99
culated rather for the Meridian of Geriiianv than Great Britain,
and
it was the kinir's only luistortiine that he did not well understand
our constitution.
1717. Dec. ."JUth. 15. lladdou sent uie some ajiples, an oranjxe, and
a bottle of gooseberiy wine to be drunk at Christopher's. Uncle
said he would be afraid to many me into that family (i.e., Colingwood's),
I should gett into such a nest of drinkers at this time, etc.
1717. Dec. 31st. Counsellor Jefiferies speaking in behalf of Mr.
Shippen said if eveiy one had not their freedom to speak their
thoughts,^'*^ he knew not what any of them should do here,—and it
was impossible in short, says he, that the publick should be served,
when so many officers and pensioners satt thei-e to serve themselves
purely and not their country.
1717/8. Jan. 1st. Preached this day, they did not use to have
one before. Earnestly invited to Mr. Park's, but uncle would not go.
Uncle says he will have us l)oth manyed before another year—me
first and then Jane—and then next winter he will go to the Bath.
1717/8. Jan. 2nd. The king designs for Hannover this springand
designs to appoint the Lord Chancellor, Archbishop Canterbury',
etc., administrators of affairs in this absence—so that the king and
prince are not reconciled, etc.
1717/8. Jan. 3rd. This jjarish when uncle first came was very
rude and degenerate—would come into church and ne'er move their
hats till just at the reading desk—and then sitt all the time, etc.—he
api^lied to three or four of the Ijest, and instioicted them when to sitt,
stand and kneel, and then l)id the vulgar mind them, etc.
1717/8. Jan. 4th. Came Mr. R. Wood and dined Avith us, he
talked of returning that night, and, so expecting every minute he
would move, I sitt all the time with them, nor indeed did I think it
would have been civil to have left them wlien Mr. Dulap was there, nor
could I have studied well in the next room, as he bawled and made
a noise, but yet uncle quarreled with me about it, said he see what I
would be when left to ni}- self, he was weary of them, and would have
been glad to have been at liberty to have gone as I was.
1717/8. Jan. oth. Told me I delivered that sermon the worst I
had ever done any—had better have been at my study yesterday
afternoon. King James the first was treated ungenteelly by his
noblemen in Scotland while king tliere—tliey would open the door
and go in unto him without any ceremony—but when he came to
England, and three or four of them were sent to him, upon some
message, and having notice of it, he made them attend nineteen or
twenty day.s—and when they complained how long they had attended,
he .said, what could they not have lifted up the sneck, had they
forgott their old way.
1717/8. Jan. 10th. Mr. Aglionby, Reed and Hutchinson came,
raised me out of bed when all in a sweat, gott cold—they took it ill.
'" Query, Shippen 's famous speech against the Septennial Bill. Cf. Dictionary
of National Biof/raphi/,