accepted a Freedom (made a Freeman), and wish to accommodate him with J. Gower's House, but that wou'd have been dispos'd of long ago, if it had not suited a scheme of mine to keep it in the way my it now is for the rest of my life. At least as long as I am able to take a turn now and then to see my friends in Sussex."
Pelham House. (Note. Views of Colonel James Pelham's original house at No. 82, High Street, Hastings, are shewn elsewhere, and also a view after its reconstruction by Mr. Guy, a printer, who purchased the property about 1872. Author.)
24th March, 1757. Mr. W. Cranston to Mr. Collier, then at Hastings. " I think our Ministerial Change seems to be over. It seems the Grand Question was whether the Duke of Cumberland should go abroad Pitt violently against it, Fox, of course, for --it but upon a Grand Councill on the occasion, it has passed in the negative by one voice only. . . . Paper, pens, ink, penknives, etc., etc., is to be taken off from all publick offices, or at least vastly reduced, for Mr. Legg (Chancellor of Exchequer) says the Items amount to more money than pr annum now than Queen Elizabeth was allowed to carry on fforeign warr. ..."
Sussex Iron Industry. As to the Act for permitting all Barr Iron from America to be imported duty ffree, that it is generally believed will pass. "Twill hurt ye Sussex Works." (The Iron Trade was still of importance in Sussex. Editor.)
Founder of Brighton. 30th October, 1758. Dr. Russell, from Brighton, to Mr. Collier, with advice about his health. " Mr. Collier's health seems to have temporily improved about this time, as Dr. Russell says he is pleased with the favourable accounts he has had from Mr. Collier's friends." (Dr. Russell, it will be remembered, was the founder of the reputation of Brighton as a health resort. Editor.)
Mr. Collier's Illness. 9th January, 1759. Mr. W. Cranston to Mrs. Collier. " I had the favour of yesterday, which you rightly observ'd that the accounts received of Mr. Collier's illness gave me not the least glymse ever to hope for a recovery, and to think what a person at his time of life has lately gone through and yet to be in the land of the living is amazing When in Sussex last summer, after finishing every other person's accounts, Mr. Collier was extreamly anxious for my putting his own private affairs in order, which were got in much confusion in his incapacity, thro' his not being able to write, and keep a proper Accou't of his Receipts and Payments . . . These with the assistance of Mr. Patrick. were, with much pains, gone through, and the particulars thereof given to him, and with which he seem'd much pleas'd . . . I advised Mr. Collier to give up other people's business, and to put the transacting of his own private concerns into other hands. He seemed to think that 'twould be much more convenient for Mr Patrick (Mr. Collier's old Clerk) to be his Manager in Chief, and -
