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Honour'd Sir
I receivd yours of the 14th past on Saturday with a letter for Mr James Calvert and a bill for 12d enclosed with which I waited on Mr Calvert the Monday following and he gave me in change 12s 8d. As I am not yet settled I told him my situation, he behaved very complaisant to me and said he should be glad to do me any service that lay in his power, and if he heard of anything for me he would let me know it. Though Cozn George nor Bill have not heard of a place for me yet I believe it is not owing to any neglect of theirs but places at present are very scarce and it is very difficult for a person unacquainted with Business to get into a place at first, however I hope it will not be long before I shall be settled to your satisfaction. I am very glad to hear that my Mother is so well recovered of a Disorder that you say she has been so very ill of and I hope by the Blessing of God she will have a Continuance of her Health. I intend writing my sister an answer soon, and am with Duty to Mother & Grandmother love to my Bothers & Sisters Compts to all enquiring Friends Your most dutiful son A Badcock To Mr Abrm Badcock At Bampton near Tiverton Devon
Honourd Mother - London Sept 3. 1766
I receivd my fathers kind letter the 14 of August which gave me great pleasure as it brought me the agreeable news of the Familys Health, and my sisters better Health. I took out the lycence the 16 th , which I suppose you have by this time recd, as I sent them to Tiverton last week. I should have wrote you at the same time but I did not know of the persons going till it was too late. My Cozn George has not heard of anything for me yet but does not doubt but he shall very soon, but I find Cozn Bill was here three or four months before he could get a place. All my relations behave very kind, last week I dind with Cozn Isaac & his mother they treated me very handsomely and desired I would call and see them whenever I had an opportunity. London is really a very surprizing place. It is Almost impossible to think what Numbers are continuously passing to and fro in the streets. I believe I shall like it very well after I have been used to it a little but I assure you at present it seems to me quite a confusd place, I cannot pretend to give you any particular account of it for I have seen but very little of it yet. I should be glad if Jack or sister would write me soon and let me know whether she still continues to be better. In my next I hope I shall be able to give you a long Account of this famous city but at present I must conclude with my duty to my Father & Grandmother Love to Brothers & Sisters & compliments to all enquiring Friends who am all friends here desire their compliments your most dutiful son A Badcock
Honourd Sir,
I recd your [ ]8 th yesterday, as I suppose you have mine of the 6th I am very sorry to hear that I have given you and my Mother so much uneasiness nor am I yet become so unnatural as not to be greatly concerned to hear that the change of air has not been of any use to my dear sister, but however I hope by Blessing of God Almighty she will again recover her Health. I hope you do not impute it to negligence or Disaffection that I did not write you when I sent the lycence but I assure you I did not know of it till the person was just going out of town, though I acknowledge it was a very great fault that I had not wrote a line or two, but I hope you will pardon this my first transgression and you never shall find me guilty of the like. I thought to have wrote you soon after I sent the lycence, but omitted it thinking I should have been able to have sent you word of my being settled in a place before now, though Cozn George has not been fortunate enough to hear of a place for me yet, I believe he is so capable of serving me as any young man in London and will I believe do anything for me that lies within his power. If I had been acquainted with Business Cozn George could have got me place soon after I came here. I have nothing more to add at present but am your most dutiful son A Badcock Please to give my duty to grandmother and Mamma & love to Brothers & Sisters I should be glad if you would let me hear by the next post how my sister is To Mr Badcock in Bampton near Tiverton Devon
My Dearest Sister It was with the greatest pleasure I recd the agreeable News of the Recovery of your Health, for I had been very uneasy about you after I recd my Father's letter. I have no likelood of a place yet, Cozn Bill says he has heard of two or three But he did not approve of neither of them, but he hopes it will not be long before they shall hear of something that will suit me. Cozn Bill is a very genteel young fellow, I like him much better than I do Cozn George for he is quite affable & good natured, but Cozn Geo: is very reservd, though he behaves very kind to me. Last week I was at Cozn Isaacs when we went to St James Park, which is a lovely place, there are very fine walks together with a large canal which reaches from one end to the other of it. There are numbers of Gentleman and Ladies continually walking in it. The front of the Palace faces the park but it is not so magnificent a building as I thought it was. It is large but very low, I think it is but one storey high, there are many buildings in town that are far superior to it. From St James we went to Westminster Abbey which is a large antique Building but within it is finely decorated with monuments erected in memory of many celebrated men, and in some parts of it are several of the Royal family in wax work which looks very fine, here is also the coronation Chair in which I had the honour to sit down. Its an old rotten thing you would not think it was fit for any use but to burn. I had the pleasure also to see her Majestys Ass which I assure you s very beautiful Creature, it is kept confind in a stable by itself & will not suffer any person to come nigh her but her keeper. My dear I must now quit this subject and give you some account of my two old Cozns. Cozn George is about fifty or sixty and is a good jolly man of his age, and Sundays he dresses of like a young Beau with ruffled shirts and rings upon his fingers, but his sister is older and I think fulfils the old saying once a woman twice a child, but that's neither here nor there, they behave very well to me, and while I stay with them I shall endeavour to do everything that lies in my Power to please them. My dear I am greatly obliged to you for your kind advice for I know I cannot be too cautious what Company I keep but I hope it shall always be my chiefest care to avoid the vices of the town, for otherwise I know I should not only make my Dear Parents miserable here but myself miserable hereafter. I was never more surprised to hear of the death of Mr Bryant, but as you observed life is very uncertain. I should be glad if you would let me know in your next how his affairs are settled and what is become of poor Frank, you must let me know where my brother Jack is, whether he is gone to school again. I believe have wrote you enough of my nonsense to tire you so I will now conclude I am your affectionate Brother AB PS All my friends here desire their Compts & pray give my duty to my Father Mother and Grandmother and love to Brothers and Sisters complts to Mr Anstey & Mrs & all other enquiring friends. To please my two old Cozns I must desire you to give their compts to the Oxenhams family & send me word in your next if they are all well. To Miss Badcock In Bampton near Tiverton Devon
Honourd Sir I hope you will excuse me not writing you sooner, I should have wrote you before now but as Cozn Sam was in town I thought I might as well write you by him, as put you to the expense of a letter by post. I am sorry I did not give you a more particular Account of my situation in my last but as I was but just got into my [ ] I could not say much about it. My Masters [ ]e is Gaskarth, he lives in Nicholas Lane Lombard Street, I have not agreed for any time but may have it when I please. I hope the place will do well enough if not I hope I shall be able to stay in it till something better offers. The Ham & tongue you were speaking of I find you sent up with Sam Burgess things which were carried to Cozn Harry Badcocks so that he looked upon it as a present sent to him. You should always for the future direct what you send not for me but for Mr George Badcock himself, and then there could be no such Mistake. If you could continue to send up a Hogshead of Cyder it would be the most acceptable thing you could send. I had quite forgot the Hare in my last letter But it came safe to hand and Mr Badcock was very well pleased with it. I told Mr Badcock that you were willing to pay him any [ ] for the time I was with him but he was so kind as to say he did not expect anything at all. As I am pretty much without Door with Bills etc I am very much in want of a Great Coat, and my Master has been speaking to me several times about having one. As the summer is coming on I should not have thought of having a Great Coat till winter had not my master been speaking so often about it. I have had a very bad cold for this month past which I caught by going out in the rain without a great coat, but I am now quite well. As I had but one Pair of Breeches when I came up they are now almost wore out, so that I shall be obliged to wear my best every day very soon if I have not got another pair, but as I was so long in town before I got into Place and had no money coming in, my stock is now almost exhausted so should be glad if you could remit me a little Bill upon someone in town. I suppose you cannot get a bill drawn for less than £4 or £5, what I have not immediate occasion for I hope I will take particular care. I have had my new cloathes about three weeks. It is a good dark colour, it cost me £5 & I have inclosed a bit of the pattern. Sue Caprons Brother now lives with Cozn Isaac & his mother. I saw him not long since, he was then in good health. Please to give my Duty to Mother & Grandmother Love to my Brothers & Sisters & Compts to all enquiring friends and am your ever dutiful son A Badcock I am sorry to put you to this expence but shall not be able to do without it and should be glad if you would send it as soon as possible. Cozn Hannah Badcock has read a letter from Daniel Reads wife desiring her to let her know where to write to her sister and she desires that you will be so kind as to tell her that she has not heard anything of her for two or three years, now does not know what has become of her. To Mr Badcock In Bampton
Dear Sister - London 14 June 1767 Recd yours of 22nd May by Mrs Biefords and am very sorry that I did not send you what you desired in your letter. I assure you it was my intent to have sent it but was disappointed by Biefords going out of town much sooner than I expected. He called on me with the letter the Wednesday night he came to town, and told me he should not go out of town till the Tuesday sennight after. I called at is lodgings the Sunday but he was gone out, but meeting him in the street the Tuesday he told me to my surprise that he was going almost directly so that I could not possibly get it ready. As you see it was not my fault. I hope you will excuse me, for I assure you my Dear I should be very glad to oblige you in that or any thing else that lays in my Power. I saw cousin Bill Burgess yesterday but had very little time with him. He tells me he was at our house three or four days and that he has got a great deal of news to tell me, so suppose I shall have Full account of Bampton Fair the next time I see him [ ] you are a letter in my debt I should not have troubled you with this so soon had he not told me you denied I would write as soon as he came up. You wrote me in a former letter that my father intended sending up Cozn Geo: Badcock a Ham very soon, but having heard nothing of it since as I have mentioned it to Cozn George that I expected it, I hope you will not Disappoint me by any means but send it by the first opportunity in so doing you will greatly oblige. Your most affectionate Brother Abrm Badcock P.S Please to give my Duty to Father Mother & Grandmother I am very much obliged to Gr[]ther for what she sent me by C[ ] have not been able to find out Dick Conway yet but hope shall be able to inform of … next To Miss Badcock In Bampton near Tiverton Devon
London 29 July 1767 Dear Sister
Rcd my Fathers kind letter of 6 th June as also yours which you sent by a young fellow who you say is an acquaintance of uncle Bryants, but it was three weeks or a month after it was dated before I received it as he did not come to town for some time after he left Taunton. I had a full account of Bampton Fair from Cozn Bill Burgess and glad to hear you made it so agreeable to him for he tells me he spent his time much more agreeably than at Tiverton. The Ham Tongue & Bacon came safe to hand. As the wine licence is almost expired I thought my Father would have inclosed them in the same box. If I am not mistaken it is time they sent up. I suppose you will now be obligd to send them by post. I hope my father will take care not to keep them too long, if you would send them by post please to direct them to be left at Cozn Geo Badcocks. As it is now a twelve month since I had my cloaths that I brought up with me I assure you they now begin to look very mean and am obligd to wear my best every day but as it is so lately that I applied to my father I am almost ashamed to ask him again, though my Dear I assure you it is not before I want it, as you observed in your last letter a little decent pride is very becoming and unless a person is dressed a little genteel here he is not lookd upon as anybody. To be like the rest of the people I have had a tail tyed to my fine locks which cost me no less than five shillings and I cannot well go out anywhere of a Sunday without having it dressed which cost me sixpence a time, so you can see my Dear one cannot well be proud without paying for it. I will not trouble you any longer with my nonsense now but conclude with my Duty to Father & Mother & Grandmother Love to Brothers & Sisters and am[ ]your most affectionate brother AB PS if my Father can conveniently [ ] I should be glad if he would send a little money in the same bill as he sends for the licence I must beg you to excuse the badness of the writing for I am almost ashamed to send it but have not time to write it over now To Miss Badcock In Bampton Near Tiverton Devon
London 14 August 67 Hond Father
I recd yours of 4 th inst last Friday together with Grandmothers spirit or liquor licence, and agreeable to your order applied to Cozn Geo: Burgess for the money he was so kind as to let me have and took out the licence last Wednesday, should be glad if you would let me know in your next whether grandmothers spirits or liquor licence must be sent down again or not. I am sorry should be obligd to apply to you for Money at a time of the year when I know it is generally very scarce but if you consider that I have wore my cloaths that I brought up every day for above these twelve months you must think they are now almost wore out I assure you they are become so mean I shall be obligd to wear my best every day. When you sent me the last money I was in want of a great many things. I bought a great coat a hat a pair of breeches and 2 pairs of stockings besides shoes and several other little things and my washing seldom costs me less than a shilling a week. I assure you I am as frugal as possible but if a person is not dressed a little genteel he is not lookd upon here. However if it does not suit you when you remit that money you speak of to Bill Burgess I would not desire you to send me any, for I would make any shift sooner than you should be put to any inconvenience on any account. The Ham & Tongue were very acceptable, Cozn Geo Badcock desires his Compts, and is much obligd to you for them. As for the tatse of them I cannot say anything about that yet, But as they cook pretty well I hope the fair will not be inferior to their outward appearance. I don't know of anything more to write you at present but conclude with my duty to Mother & Grandmother & Love to Brothers & Sisters and am sir your most dutiful son Abm Badcock To Mr Abrm Badcock At Bampton Near Tiverton Devon
London 26 Octor 1767 Dear Sister
Hearing of a Gentleman of Tiverton that was going down I with great pleasure embraced the opportunity of writing you as you say it always gives the family pleasure to hear from me. Am determined for the future to omit no opportunity of writing. Should have wrote you by Mr Bicford last week had I not then known of this Gentleman going in a few days. Bicford told me he expected you at Exeter in a few days but as Bampton fair is so near at Hand I imagined it was his mistake so directed for you at Bampton. I drank with Cozn Bill Burgess yesterday. I think I never send my time more agreeable than in his company for he is really a very agreeable and entertaining companion, he desires his compts to you, he says he is much more in my Fathers debt than the things he sent you and that you are very welcome to them. Since he returned from the country he has cut his hair [ ] I think looks much better in a wig than he did in his hair should have sent down my old things now but as they are useful to wear in the morning and save my other cloaths I will (if my mother thinks proper) keep them a little longer, or if not, I should be glad to know in your next, and will send them down the next opportunity. I don't know anything more to write you now so conclude with wishing you a merry fair and am dr sister Your affectionate Brother Abrm Badcock PS Please to give my Duty to Father Mother & Grandmother, Love to Brothers & Sister, & Compts to all Friends, shall expect a long letter from you soon after the fair as you will then have a great deal of news to write me Miss Badcock In Bampton A favour of Mr Wm Burgess
London 29 Decemr 1767
Honourd Mother I had yesterday the pleasure to hear by Mrs Lovelaud that you and all the Family were in good Health, but was surprised to hear that you had been uneasy at not hearing from me, as I wrote my sister a letter at Exeter about three weeks since and as I apprehended she had returned to Bampton. I waited for an answer to that letter, but have never received any. I assure you there is nothing would make me more unhappy than to think that I should be the cause of one moments uneasiness to you or my Father and am determined that nothing shall hinder me for the future from writing you once in three weeks or a month to the furthest. In my last letter to my Father I wrote him that the four Guineas I had of Cozn George Burgess would be sufficient as I then intended to apply to my master for some money, but as Cozn Bill Burgess was so kind as to offer to let me have whatever I wanted, and said he thought it looked mean to have any of my master till my year was out, I borrowed a Guinea & half of him, which I hope my father will be so kind to pay to Cozn Sam Burgess. I hope you don't think that I have been extravagant and squandered my money for I assure you no one can be more frugal than I have been. I spent the Christmas day at Cozn Geo Badcocks with Cozn Geo & Bill Burgess, Cozn George & Hannah behave as kind to me as ever and should be glad if you could conveniently send them a Hare or a ham or anything of that kind as I know it would be very acceptable. don't know of any more to write you at present as I wrote my sister all that I possibly could concerning my employment. Will [ ]ide with wishing you and the Family a happy new year a [ ] your ever dutiful son A Badcock P S please to give my duty to F[]mother love to Brothers & sisters & comp[ ]riends To Mrs Badcock In Bampton Nr Tiverton Devon
Hond Father,
I recd yours of the 12 th inst on Friday. The Melancholy news of my Mothers illness, together with your Displeasures make me at present very unhappy; though I hope by the Blessing of the Almighty you will be able to send me a more agreeable account of my Mothers Health in your next which I beg may be immediately on Receipt of this. The severe manner in which you are pleased to express yourself in Regard to my affection for you, and my conduct in life, are very cutting to me, who am conscious there never was a child who entertained a more affectionate Regard for his parents, or was more gratefully sensible than I am of the many favours and indulgences which I have received; and I am certain I never yet had and hope I never shall deviate from the paths of Truth and Virtue. I did not imagine I had exceeded the usual time for writing. If I had I woud have wrote sooner than I did, my letter of Saturday sennight you must have receivd the day after you wrote me or I should have sent this on Saturday but had not an opportunity of seeing Quick till yesterday he tells me he has sent to his wife to sell all his effects and divide them equally among the creditors, which is the only method he can propose at present of paying my Grandmother's debts, his wages here being only four shillings a week besides his Board. I imagine you will reap very little advantage from prosecuting him, he seems very poor and has scarce got any cloaths to his Back, however what Directions you will please to give I will take care shall he punctually executed. I am your most dutiful son A Badcock London 21 Augt 70 Please to give my Duty to my Mother & Grandmother and love to Brothers and Sisters I hope you will not fail to write me by return of post and shoud be glad if you woud let me know the particulars of my mothers Derenders To Mr Abrm Badcock In Bampton Nr Tiverton Devon
Hond Father
I duly recd both your favours, in answer to which I wrote you on Tuesday 31 st May informing you at the same time that I had recd a Guinea & half of one Mr Bragg of Morebath to be paid to his wife; and I was much surprised at his calling on me last Night to inform me that you had not heard from me. I inclose this letter in a frank of his on the receipt of this you will be kind enough to pay the Guinea & half to his wife, and I will give it my Brother when he comes to town. I have paid the two Guineas to Cozn Isaac agreeable to your request, and procured from him the underwritten Direction* to Mrs Land's Daughters Husband though at the same time he is not quite clear that Mr Nichols is not removed, but if he should he thinks a Line directed as under will reach him. I am exceedingly obliged by your affectionate kindness by contributing towards the expence of a journey to see you, but must beg leave to assure you it is by no means the Object which has so long prevented my coming down. It is still so uncertain when it will be convenient for me to be absent for any considerable time, that I really cannot promise to return with my Brother. It will not however I hope be a great while first, in the mean time I must entreat my Mother not to make herself uneasy as she may be assured that I will come down the first Moment I can do it with conveniece. From your most affectionate son A Badcock London June 20. 74 I have this moment seen my Brother Jack but he was in such hurte that I had but just time to shake hands with him *Mr Nichols Schoolmaster at Gravely nr St Neots Cambridgeshire To Abr Badcock Bampton Nr Tiverton Devon
Hond Father
I duly recd yours of the 4th instant which has rendered me exceedingly unhappy, for I am not yet so destitute of filial affection as not to be sincerely afflicted for the loss of my grandmother, and my mother's present unhappy state of mind. I may perhaps have been too remiss in writing but it never arose from a want of duty or affection, and as to my having delayed coming down, I never yet have had an opportunity without the utmost inconvenience, however you may be assured that nothing shall prevent me if I am alive from seeing you this summer. The box from my Brother John containing mourning for my Grandmother and my Brothers books I received safe, and immediately sent the books to Cozn Burgess, but I did not see him till Friday. He does not think it necessary for Danl to come to town till he can hear of something for him which he hopes will be in the course of three or four weeks, but as he cannot in the meantime be doing anything at home that can give him the least idea of Business Cozn Burgess thinks (and for my part I am entirely of the same opinion) that if Brother John could make it convenient for him to with him till he comes to town he might find it much more useful to him than being at home, however if that should not be convenient I wish that he would be particularly attentive to his writings and endeavour to improve himself as much as possible. This he may do without the assistance of a master by procuring some good copies and by constant Practice, and he should likewise be careful not to forget his French as it may some time or other be very necessary, as soon as I hear from Cozn Burgess I shall write again in the meantime I remain with my Duty with my Mother and love to my Brothers and Sisters Your most dutiful son A Badcock London Feby 21 75 Mr Badcock In Bampton Near Tiverton Devon
Father,
A day or two before I recd yours of the 25 th past, I had been with Cozn Burgess about my Brother Daniel, he expressed a good deal of concern that he had not yet been able to do anything for him, and imputed it to the total stagnation in their way, arising from the present unhappy dispute with our colonies; he told me however that he would endeavour to fix him with some Banker or get him into some other Way till our dispute with America should be settled, or a more eligible situation might offer. I will wait on him again in a few days, and write you further on the subject. Having lately had a difference with Mr Newbery I believe I shall leave him soon, on which account I cannot absolutely fix the time for coming down, but will write you again as well respecting that as my Brother very shortly. In the mean time I remain with my Duty to my Mother, and love to my Brothers and Sisters Your most Dutiful son A Badcock London June 18.75 Pray has Eaton been paid my Brothers schooling as he called on me a little while since To Mr Abrm Badcock In Bampton Nr Tiverton Devon
Hond Father
I am sorry to inform you that Cozn Isaac Badcock died yesterday afternoon after a very few days illness; his disorder was a putrid fever, and so violent that from what I can understand it soon deprived him of his senses in a great measure, in this state his servants I believe prevailed on him to make some sort of a will, in which I am informed he has left them and them only considerable legacies, this will however has not been signed, and I think will consequently fall to the ground. Be that as it may, form what I can learn it will be of no consequence to us, for as well as I can recollect and am told by others, you are only a second cousin, though the nearest relation of the male line whereas there are several first cousins of his mother's side, and as his effects are wholly personal they will as I am informed (for I have consulted a gentleman of the law) go entirety to those who are nearest akin whether of the male or female line. These are matters however in which you have had some experience, and guided by that, you will be kind enough to give me such instructions as you think necessary by return of the post. Isaac was taken ill on Monday last but they neither acquainted Daniel or me with it till Wednesday when I went to see him, but found him almost in a state of insensibility. As there is no relation on the spot nearer than D and myself, I have taken all the precautions necessary for the security of his Effects by locking everything up, and afterwards affixing a seal to them in the presence of Witnesses. I have also entered a Caveat in the Commons to prevent any undue advantage being taken respecting the will. These steps I thought it incumbent on me to take as a common act of Justice, regardless for whose benefit it might be. I hope you will not fail to send me an answer by Return of Post, and that you will be particular in your directions to me, whether I shall make any claims on your part, or freely acknowledge the effects to be solely the property of his first cousins on the mother's side, but for god sake let us enter into no litigation about the matter. D is in good health and bags his Duty to you and my mother and his love to his Brothers and Sisters, be pleased to accept the same from Dear Sir Your dutiful son A Badcock London Augt. 10. 1777 His effects are considerable I suppose not less than two thousand pounds Mr Abraham Badcock Bampton Nr Tiverton Devon
London Novr 6. 1777 Hond Father
My Brother and I have been waiting in painful anxiety, expecting every day to hear further from you respecting my Brother John's unhappy accident. We feel very sensibly feel this severe stoke upon us, but whatever may be the event we hope our mother will be enabled to bear it with becoming Resignation, and not give way too much to grief, which by endangering her own Health, must add still more to the affliction of the family. You would have heard from me before agreeable to your request had not Dan written on hearing of the accident from Mr Dreeves. Let me entreat you to write by the return of the post, as your present silence makes us think the worst. The wine licence I have taken out with an additional expense of 6/8 for a letter which they say was written at Midsr. I am Dear Father Your dutiful and affection son A Badcock My duty to my Mother and my Love to my Brs & Sisters Mr Badcock Bampton nr Tiverton Devon
Hond Father
I should not have so long delayed to answer yours of the 12 th June had I conceived that you would have been uneasy after having been informed that I was safe and well. I therefore write in hopes very shortly to have given you some satisfactory account of my situation or to have informed you when I could come down. As to the latter I cannot think of it yet, as the care of the business lays wholly with me, and it is at present in a situation not to be left to anyone else. Whether I shall continue long with Mrs N I know not. If I do it must be on much better terms. I have hitherto from motives of deluxury declined saying anything to her on this Head, least it might appear like taking an advantage. However I shall shortly do it, and will then write you. I confess myself much to blame in not replying to your question about the death of Mary Farwell. She died on the 26 th of Feby. I made immediate inquiry about it, and found it out with some Difficulty. I really thought I had mentioned it in the short letter I wrote you, but forgot it I suppose in my hurry. The letters for Daniel came and I sent them immediately to Mr Burgess together with some old newspapers magazines pamphlets etc which he requested I would send. I have seen Mr Burgess since who told me he took care of them. There was a ship in from New York a few days since but I had no letter from Daniel. I have seen a Gent however who has recd a letter from his Brother with whom D is intimate and he writes word that he is very well. Mr Wm Burrows who is now in town tells me Bills eyes are much better which gives me sincere pleasure. I trust they will continue so. I am with Duty to my Mother love to my sisters & Bros Your affectionate son A Badcock London July 30 th 1780 Mr Badcock Bampton near Tiverton Devon
Dear Father I was yesterday favored with yours of the 20 th. I cannot but acknowledge the justice of your complaints respecting my writing so seldom. I must however request you (as I believe I have frequently done before) not to impute it to want of Duty or affection but to its real course, viz a natural disinclination to letter writing, which not having been visited in its infancy is now become too habitual. I will endeavour however in future to give you less cause for complaint on this head. With respect to my situation though I believe Mrs Newbury would make it much more advantageous than at present rather than part with me, in short I fancy I would almost make my own terms, but from a peculiarity of temper perhaps a blameable one, I have an aversion to continue with Mrs N. I cannot however leave her at present as she cannot possibly do without me & I truly think it would be ungenerous, a conduct of which I hope I am not capable. In all notwithstanding I am on the lookout, and if anything sensible turns up, I will not delay to consult you on the occasion. I shall be glad also if you have anything to communicate to me on the subject if you will do it by letter it being impossible for the reasons above stated for me to come down for some time. I have recd a letter from Daniel who is in perfect health and seems pleased with the situation, you will hear from him by the next fleet which is expected in a few days when he promises you shall receive every particular relative to his situation etc etc which renders it unnecessary for me to do it here. You will be kind enough to inform Nancy that a Miss Saunders called on me the other day and expressed much uneasiness at never received any answer to a letter which she wrote to Nancy some time since, she is exceedingly anxious to hear from her, and wishes the letter to be directed to my care for some reason which she says she will explain to my sister hereafter I am Dear Father London March 2 1781Your Affectionate Son A Badcock My Duty to my mother and love to my Brothers & Sisters
To Brother
I trouble you with a few lines just to inform you, that agreeable to my promises to you when in London, I fully purpose to get out for Taunton (should no unforeseen matter of Business occur to prevent it) in the Course of a few Days, at present I have fixed on Friday next by the Diligence. I am with love to my Sisters & Brother Yours affectionately London Octr 14 1782 Abm Badcock To John Badcock Taunton Somerset

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Letter of Abraham Badcock Bookseller of St Paul's Chuchyard to his father
Also obituary notice of his interment in the crypt of St Paul's Lt Colonel G H Badcock Holway House Taunton From Nichols Literary Anecdotes, vol. 3 page 704 Amraham Badcock, bookseller corner of St Pauls. died April 18 th 1797 He was a native of Devonshire, in which county his family have been for many years established. The death of this gentleman was among the circumstances most apt to excite reflections upon useful nature in the minds of the living at the middle time of life and in the perfect enjoyment of health he caught a cold on Sunday 12th , which was soon followed by the symptoms of a sore throat- in a state by no means alarming to his friends- he continued till the Friday following, when a frenzy seized him about 12 o'clock & by three he was no more. His judgement of books was good, and he possessed literary talents himself, which might have been greatly useful to the World had circumstances called them into action. A few of the best designd books for children were written by him in moments of leisure- and it is believed that few of the numerous writers of either sex, whose labours have met public attention from that long famed receptacle, were without considerable obligations to his friendly and judicious suggestions, to the chasteness, delicacy and decorum of stile, so peculiarly necessary to be preserved in books intended for the instruction and amusement of children, his attention was particularly directed- & to this object he has frequently been known to sacrifice what by less considerate judges might have been deemed well worthy of publication. To the character of Mr Badcock, the pen can scarcely do justice without seeming to bestow panegyric- on general subjects perhaps few men thought more justly- in all transactions of business none could conduct themselves with more urbanity. With the diligence & accuracy of a tradesman he most happily blended the manners & principals of a gentleman. Superior to the petty attentions of immediate profit, which actuate many persons in trade, he was the liberal patron, able & faithful adviser, the unostentatious but sincere friend-an innate sense of strict honour by which all his dealings were directed & governed (tho' often thought impractical in trade, & in his particular often disadvantageous in a presuming point of view) obtained for him that mental satisfaction in which no pecuniary emolument can enter into competition- it gained him the universal esteem of all who knew him- & what greater happiness can a human being aspire at or enjoy? With his hand on his heart (the writer of this small Tribute to the memory of an excellent man) solemnly affirms that honest truth alone has guided his pen, and that he has rather fallen short than exceeded what strict justice would have allowed him to say- feeble however as is the attempt, a large circle of acquaintance will recognise the sentiments of the picture; and all will apply particular observations to the respective circumstances to which they have referred. Nor has any circumstances in the writers own life more kindly "knocked at his heart" than the first intimation of Mr Badcock's decease. Extracted for the Beauties of England & Wales vol. 10, number 30, page 302, London after describing St Pauls and the vaults underneath: "the learned but eccentric Abraham Badcock who died in 1797 at the age of 48 was buried in these vaults, in that part appropriate to the parish of St Faith" The Lords Nelson & Collingwood, Sir Christopher Wren & Sir Joseph Reynolds, the great painters Bary & Opie are also buried there- Greenstreet Enfield Highway Nov. 1812 Dear Sir, When with you at the … I mentioned the record in the publication of the Beauties of England, which you desired might be communicated to you- above is the extract and since my return I have met with a more valuable one of my late friend your brother Abraham in Nichols literary Anecdotes, which I think should be preserved as a family jewel- that is enclosed- a gentleman of the name of Jones am told is the author who doubtless was in great intimacy with your brother. The salubrious air of Devon was beneficial to my health, on my return home I found my family also returned from Brighton- they entreat their respects to all of you and very particularly to your good mother. Parties seem to be running high in America respecting peace or war- I hope the partisans for the former may prevail- I had been a long time past expecting the latter and of course with a view my property from that country. We hope when you visit the city that you will see us also- may you long enjoy health & happiness which is the sincere wish of Your friend Wm Burgess To Daniel Badcock esq. Bampton nr Tiverton Devon Abraham Badcock born 1749 Died April 18 th 1797 aged 48 Buried in St Pauls in the vaults allotted to St Faiths