character, to give him one, but I told him I could not give him a good
one, so I would not write at all. Gray is a very great drunkard, can't
keep a penny in his pocket: a sad notorious lyar. If you send him upon
a mile or two from Uphingham, he will get drunk, stay all day, and never
come home while the middle of the night, or such time as he knows his
master is in bed. He can nor will not keep any secret; neither has he
so much wit as other people, for the fellow is half a fool, for if you
would have business done with expedition, if he once gets out of the
town, or sight of you, shall see him no more, while the next morning he
serves me so and so: you must expect the same if you hire him. I use you
just as I would be used myself; it I desired a character of you of a
servant, that I had design'd to hire of yours, as to let you know the
truth of every thing about him.

"I am, sir, your most humble servant to command.

"_Great Addington, June_ 28, 1734.

"P.S. He takes good care of his horses, with good looking after as
to the dressing of them; but if you don't take care, he will fill the
manger full of corn, so that he will clog the horses, and ruin the whole
stable of horses."

* * * * *


EPITAPH

_Upon two religious disputants who are interred within a few paces of
each other._