I received your very kind Letter of the 2d of January last, announcing your valuable Present of the Glass Machine for impregnating Water with fixed Air as recommended for the Stone in Dobson’s Treatise & Falconer’s Appendix. I had before receiv’d from you that Book, and having last Fall with Difficulty procured one of those Machines of the old Form, I began to make some Trial of it, which was interrupted by Accidents till our severe Winter came on before I experienc’d any sensible Effect, and induc’d me to desist with Intention to renew the Experiment in the Spring. On examining the Glass lately, I found that the Frost had split the Bottom Piece, and thereby render’d the whole useless; so that nothing could arrive more opportunely than that you have sent, as it came to hand soon after; and I am now making Preparation for a steady Use of it, of the Success of which I shall hereafter inform you. In the meantime please to accept my thankful Acknowledgments for this additional Instance of your Kindness to your old Friend.
I inclose a Bill of Exchange for One hundred and Fifty Pounds, out of which I desire you to pay Mr. Caslon Letter founder’s Bill for the Types mention’d in the enclos’d Copy of a Letter to him, the Amount of which I do not exactly know, deducting his usual Allowance for prompt Pay, wch. I think is 7½ per Cent—and keeping the rest till farther Order. I am as ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately