Ffeil 81. - Anthony Henley [MP for Southampton, 1727-1734] to the Mayor Of Southampton,

He wonders much at recipient's insolence in troubling him to oppose the General Excise scheme. He bought you [i.e. the borough] and paid much more than 'you' were worth and he knows, what recipient imagines he did not know, that recipient is at this time engaged in an underhand treaty of bringing in another gentleman for the borough and he knows, what he is sure recipient does not know, that he has already purchased another borough. 'So God's curse light on you & your borough & may your houses be as open & common to Excisemen as your wifes & daughters were to me at the time I stood a candidate to represent your borough'. [Partly published in Notes & queries, 2nd series, vol. 12 (1862), p. 107.]. Copy.