Letter – James Mulcaster to John Westgarth – 20 Jul 1746

To Mr John Westgarth at Unthank in Weardale

Sir

Having lately seen in my Friend Job Ward’s Hand a Vol. of Don Quixote wch I understand is Your’s,  my great Inclination for Reading, and Your late Favour in lending me Several Vols of Shakespear gives me the Presumption to beg a Loan of this also, and the other Vols of it. – Tho’ in this I’m conscious that I too much resemble other Sturdy Beggars, to whom if you give an Alms once, you run ye Hazard of being perpetually pester’d wth their Importunities. – Only I can promise to differ from them in this, to wit, not to make any bad Use of your Charity, but Shall be very careful of what you shall please to trust with me, and return your Books as Soon as possible, having Some Short Intermittions in my Bus’ness wch gives me an Opportunity of using them. – If you add the above Favour to your former, You will lay under a further (and very great) Obligation a Poor fellow, not capable of making any Return other than remaining

      Sir,  With the utmost Sincerity Your very much obliged Humble Servant

 		Jas Mulcaster

Acton 20th July 1746