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 362 you and your family, and him who cannot be less in want of it, my poor cousin, James Fontaine.

I congratulate you on your new purchase, by which, if I understand the matter rightly, you have turned your money to greater advantage than 4 per cent., and hope you will repair the loss sustained by the reduction on the interest prescribed by the Parliament while your money was in the Bank. I conclude that you lead a very happy life in your present country-seat, but must beg you will excuse me when I desire you will be so kind in your next as to let me know how the name of your castle is pronounced, for I observe it is spelt CWM, which, for want of vowels, I do not know how to pronounce, and which is, I fancy, the case in many Welsh words.

My present settlement does not answer the opinion you have conceived of it, being very little improved by art; for, as the only inducement I have hitherto had for residing at it is, its being the nearest tolerable neighborhood, I could find and purchase, to my business in Halifax, I have always been cautious of expending any thing considerable on it, being determined (God willing) to leave it when my business shall enable me to live in Hanover, a much more sociable part of the country, where I have upwards of five hundred acres of land very pleasantly situated, with good house and all other necessaries; though I am not so fond of my scheme but that I may perhaps sell my possessions below, and with the money purchase a larger quantity of land in these parts, since the increase of our family with which it has pleased God to bless me (having, thank God, three fine boys, John, Peter and William), may make it more expedient to spend our days near the frontier. However, I do not form, I hope I never shall form any other resolution than to endeavor to be contented in