subs. (old).—An acknowledgment, or return, in kind, of favours received. (But see quots., 1662, 1690, and 1738).

1

  1662.  FULLER, Worthies. This is generally taken in a good and grateful sense, for the mutual return of favours received: it being (belike) observed that the people in this county at entertainments drink back to them who drank to them.

2

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HERTFORDSHIRE-KINDNESS, Drinking to the same Man again.

3

  1701.  NED WARD, A Walk to Islington, p. 11.

        For want of a Third in our Mess, we were fain
To use HERTFORDSHIRE KINDNESS, Here’s to you again.

4

  1725.  A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.

5

  1738.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation. Neverout. My Lord, this moment I did myself the honour to drink to your Lordship. Lord Smart. Why then that’s HERTFORDSHIRE KINDNESS. Neverout. Faith, my Lord, I pledged myself: for I drank twice together without thinking.

6

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HERTFORDSHIRE KINDNESS. Drinking twice to the same person.

7