Hon'ed Sr,--I recd yrs of ye 25th in which I find with ye utmost concern ye dissatisfaction you express at my expences. To pretend to justify, or defend myself in this case would be, I fear, with reason thought impertinent; tis sufficient to convince me of the extravagance of my expences, that they have met with yr disapprobation, but might I have leave to instance an Article or two, perhaps you may not think 'em so wild and boundless, as with all imaginable uneasiness, I see you do at present. Washing 2_l._ 1_s._ 0_d._, about 3_s._ 6_d._ per wk, of which money half a dozen shirts at 4_d._ each comes to 2_s._ per wk, shoes and stockings 19_s._ 0_d._ Three pairs of Shoes at 5_s._ each, two pair of Stockings, one silk, one worcestead, are all that make up this Article, but be it as it will, since, Sr, you judge my expence too great, I must endeavour for ye future to lessen it, & shall be contented with whatever you please to allow me. one considerable article is a servant, an expence which many are not at, and which I shall be glad to spare, if you think it fitt, in hopes to convince you I desire nothing superfluous; as I have reason to think you will not deny me what is necessary. As you have been pleased to give me leave I shall draw upon you for 25li as soon as I have occasion. I beg my duty to my Mother & am with all possible respect Hon'ed Sr, yr most Dutifull Son W. PITT. The third is mysterious enough to us, but it expresses gratitude for some marks of kindness, whether to the writer or not, cannot now be known. It is difficult to imagine that Robert should have extended his beneficence to any one at Trinity but William, and yet it is not easy to depict the gratitude of a College for a favour done to one of their undergraduates by his father. In any case there remains no longer any trace of such benefaction at Trinity. The inevitable financial statement in which the bookseller's bill figures handsomely, not far behind the tailor's, is tactfully kept separate in a postscript. It is, however, well to know that this letter, the last in all probability that William wrote to his father, who died six weeks afterwards, is one of as much affection as the fashion of that day permitted. WILLIAM PITT TO HIS FATHER. _Trin: Coll: April ye 10th 1727._