9th February, 1724 The Same. "I have bought and sent down 200 of Raising for the Wine, but have bought noe Sevill Oranges, because I think they may be as Cheap bought in the Country, by Dr. Carleton, of a man that comes often to the Swan." (Dr. Carleton was a Medical Man and Mayor of Hastings 1714. The Swan Hotel, High Street, Hastings)
21st November, 1730 Mr. Collier in London to his wife at Hastings. - "I was at Lord Ashburnham's this Morning. He begg -- to have some baked herrings if you can get a large Pan. I desire you will send some by first Boat, directed to his house in St. James Square."
19th February, 1731 The Same. "I desire Nick may set out Munday morning with the horses, and lye at Sen'nocke (Sevenoaks), and sc;e come to London Tuesday forenoon. I hope to get our ffryday, and there is noe coach-day before." (It appears from this that coaches did not run from London every day on the Hastings road)
16th February, 1733 The Same. (This letter refers to the death of Mr. Collier's mother, who died at Hollington and was buried at St. Clement's, Hastings.) The Editor's note in reference is "I do not know what Mr. Collier's Mother's family name was. In the entry of Mr. Collier's baptism, in the register of St. Mary's, Eastbourne, he is described as the child of Peter and Sarah Collier. In another reference : " Mr. Collier's father was proprietor of the Lamb Inn, at Eastbourne."
21st February, 1733. Editor's reference (With the letters for this year are a quantity of Bills relating to the laying of pipes of elm wood for the purpose of conveying water from the Bourne Stream to Mr. Collier's and other houses. Probably the first attempt at supplying the inhabitants with a direct water supply.)
24th June, 1735 From Mr. Collier in London to Mrs. Collier at Hastings. "I hope the pipes are finished and that you have a supply of water to your satisfaction, notwithstanding the Villanous usage we have met with about the pipes.[1]"
3rd March, 1736 The Same. ". . . I find the Smuggling Trade goes on at a high rate, and soe there is accounts come from all parts, but more particularly Sussex and Kent. . . . The Bexhill Skirmish is in the Newes, but that makes the officers Heroes instead of Running away on the Smugglers attacking them."
29th November, 1737. The Same. (Mr. Collier's love for Hastings) "I am sorry you think Hastings so desolate a place, and you so often repeating it makes one Imagine you are unfortunate -
- ↑ Here Mr. Collier refers to the scheme previously mentioned for supplying the town with water from the Bourne Stream, which was partly carried out (as appears from this letter) but afterwards continued. The heads of the agreement between Henry Carleton (Mayor of Hastings, 1706 and 1714) and Mr. Collier of the one part and Robert Rosam (the contractor of the work) of the other part, are with the correspondence. An action for trespass was brought against Messrs. Collier and Carleton, by two discontented inhabitants, and the scheme was for some reason discontinued.) [See chapter on the Bourne Stream . Author.
