A few days ago I was surprisd and delighted by a kind Letter from You transmitted to me by your Grandson now in London, and flatterd myself I should soon have seen him and been able by the Kindness I wishd to show him, to express some part of the Reverence and Affection I have allways felt for You. Mrs. Shipley and her Daughters were overjoy’d with the expectation of seeing a Grandson of yours, whom We should immediately have considerd as one of the Family. But our Disappointment was great when in answer to our Invitation He told us in a very polite and affectionate Letter, that his short leave of absence would not allow us the satisfaction of seeing him, and I fear it is now much more improbable that I should ever see his Grandfather. Whether Providence has that happiness in reserve for me or not, I still rejoice that You are still bless’d with a healthy and chearful Old Age, the natural reward of your Virtue and Prudence; and that even the Stone becomes tolerable under your Temper and Management. I was allways disposd to be a Quack and cannot help mentioning that I know the late Sir Charles Howard, who had been long torturd with the Stone and felt excruciating pain from the motion of a Carriage; but by the use of Wild Carrot Tea was so relieved as to bear a long Journey. A very able and honest Country Physician assurd me that thinking himself relievd by accidentally drinking Lemonade he continued the use of it for some years with very great benefit. Honey is a produce of Hamshire that We are proud of, and most of us think there is no better Remedy for the Stone. Forgive my Impertinence for wishing to suggest something that may give ease and comfort to my most valuable Friend.

For my own part I have enjoyd a tolerable share of Health and Spirits and I have to bear the infirmities of Age by their coming on gently like the gradual approach of Cold and Winter. My great affliction for the last year and a half has been a criminal prosecution carried on against my Son for republishing a little Dialogue concerning the Principles of Government which was writ by my Son in Law Sir William Jones and I think in the Neighbourhood of Passy. If You saw it, I believe You must recollect that there was nothing in it, but the fundamental truths on which every free Government is built. The Prosecutor is Mr. Fitzmaurice whom I think You know. The Provocation was that Fitzmaurice a few years ago at a publick County meeting made a labourd Speech against petitioning the Crown for redress of Grievances; My Son answerd him upon the Spot and with so manifest a Superiority that upon a Division, which Fitzmaurice insisted upon, he was left alone. This He never forgave. This and some other points of my Son’s Conduct for which I am sure You would applaud him, have made him an object of Ministerial Persecution. Twice they put of[f] his Trial on the most frivolous and shameful Practices but in both because they did not dare to trust a Jury of the County where he livd. By some legal management they got the trial removed to Shrewsbury and send a Judge to try him not inferior in manner or principles to Scruggs or Jeffreys But I will desire Mr. Franklin to bring You the Trial Adieu my ever honourd Friend