(seq. 60)

Family. I wish our next Governor may take & pursue the Advice Mr Grenville may
give him & then he may be happy himself & make the People so. He cant possibly
expect more than three thousand Pounds Currency a year Settlement, & if he is
perfectly content with that, & has an honest good Heart & tolerable Abilities his Situation
may be very agreeable to him. I shall be obliged to you to recommend my Son to his
Patronage, tho I will not do any thing which I cant think to be right to secure his
Favour. The Revd Mr Braithwaite seems to be in a declining way, and probably the
Parish of St. Philip, the best Living in this Island, may be the first that will fall.
If the Gov.r should bring over a Chaplain with him, he must be the first Preferred, but
if he should decline to I refer my Son, can you recommend any effectual method
by which a Parish may be secured to him before he is Ordained a Priest? He is
greatly commended by all who hear him Read or Preach but he is not to be seen
in the Bridge Parish whilst Mr. Barnard continues the Rector. I think I mentioned
to you before that my Son is Married to his Cousin Miss Butcher one of the most singular
Excellencies but no Fortune in Money. I believe they will each be very happy in the
Marriage State, tho I could have wished he had not thought of Marrying till he had
been Ordained a Priest.
I read to Mr Clarke what you wrote me concerning him. He desires me to return you
his best Compliments, to thank you most heartily for your kind Services to him & your
obliging offers of Friendship, which he thinks greatly worthy his accepting and
cultivating. He says his having an Estate in [?] is no ways improper for any
good English Subject or an Officer of the Customs, for as the produce of the Stock centers as it then
cant be any ways detrimental but rather advantagious to have Foreign Settlements,
if the profit of the Estate is remitted to England or a British Colony. He is singular & positive
in many of his Notions, and has many qualities that I much dislike.
I thought it necessary to let our President Mr Weekes know what you mention
concerning his Sons [?]. The old Gentleman has many, oddities, & is very
contemptuously thought of by those who know him, however highly he has been
commended in the Publick Addresses as President of the Island.
I hope no ill consequences has attended His Majestys Visiting his German Dominions,
and shall be glad to hear of his safe return to England & his having Established some
advantageous Terms by his dangerous Voyage.
May no Impediment happen to frustrate your good Endeavours in procuring the
Supply of Ordnance & Stores, to be soon sent [?].
My Wife, Son & his Wife & all the rest of my Family join with me in offering
You, your Lady & Family our best Regards & good Wishes. I am ever and with the
utmost & most Affectionate Esteem & Respect, Dearest Sir, Your most devoted, extremely
Obliged & ever faithful humble servant. [?] Diaz Duke.
Mr Blenman & all your other Friends turn their most respectful Compliments to You good Sir.
When may we expect to receive the marble statue of Govr. Greville.