L30/14/315/8

From Portuy ? to 2nd Baron Grantham (in Spanish):

31 Aug 1776

From: 1776 To: 1776

Translation: Most Excellent Sir, I received with highest esteem the honour His Excellency makes me in the letter written 20th May. The esteem I hold His Excellency always inclines me to do it of his letter and gives me motive and offers matter to answer. Persuade me easily that all those things that belong to me are suitable to be of His Excellency’s attention. I have already notified His Excellency in my last letter that I achieved because of the favour of The Archbishop and others friends. The Abby of Monastic Community of Santa Cruz near to the town of Winchester. I am in command of ten monks, but I have hopes that in spite of everything I will never be subordinated. It is not out of vanity having the best horses, or the most sumptuous tables or wearing the richest clothing. I can’t undertake the temperance and moderation owed to the Ecclesiastic estate. Father Butler, my neighbour who is Canon of Winchester, serves me as a good example. His Excellency has known him very well. The Father himself is a declared enemy of the secular’s invitations. He rarely leaves the cloister, lives retreated and tormented, more than it can be believed. There are other respectful neighbours near to “La Comunidad de Santa Cruz” The Principals being Sir Cornwale, worthy and eloquent man who is member of Parliament and the erudite Father Sturges, Canon of Winchester, a very estimable Ecclesiastic. I take pleasure that His Excellency scorns the intention of the two last chapters of “The History and fall or Roman Empire” by Sir Gibbon. If I have to tell what I feel, those chapters are a mere superficiality without any depth at all.. The style is clearly very affected and the use of the historic events is nearly always sinister. Sir Gibbon doesn’t deal with our religion as a frank man. The irony is wicked and that lacking integrity work intends no least that to sink the Religion of Christianity. His Excellency has observed many times that there are volunteer blind people who want to annihilate God or the rational soul. But it is not advisable for me to take the tone of the pulpit, very superfluous in a letter to His Excellency. The Treatise of the internal evidence of our Faith, which I have sent His Excellency, is written by the well known Sir Joahne Tenyns, and it is a sovereign antidote against the poison spread by Gibbon in his History. The style is to everybody’s liking, energetic and natural, and introduces Christian Doctrine on the understanding smoothly. Doctor Kennicolt has published his first volume of “The Old Hebraic Testament” with endless various lessons. Having His Excellency encouraged that venture he won’t take displeasure because this work still known in Spain is very well executed. With regard to the duchess of Kingston, I was present at the magnificent spectacle of her. That mistress seemed to have studied the best way to behave herself. But everything was so dissimulated and the offence so evident that neither Sirs can’t acquit her, nor the other those present can’t feel pity for her, or put her misfortune down just to the woman’s natural weakness. Now, I have fairly discovered my small progress in the Spanish language, which I haven’t started until the day before yesterday. I wish that you forgive my presumptuous in writing him a letter which he understands and I can hardly expose this venture, learning the afore said Language, was considered to be more daring than hopeless. Should the reading of this letter amuse His Excellency in odd moments , I will be very grateful. I wish His Excellency, his worthy brother and Dr. [Waddilove] have a most prosperous life. Most Excellent Ambassador. His true servant. [Portuy].

item

Butler,
Cornwale,
Sturges,
Tenyns, Joahne,
Gibbon,
Kingston