Bath 19^th. June 1789 --

Ma tres chere femme

      I am at last arrived in this
Town and am writing to you in Miʃs S. Nicolls
Apartments -- First of all I shall begin with my
Journal -- At Buxton I found my Company
consisted of a Little lively Italian a sickly Frenchman
an English Bear who had travelled a great deal, who was
so extremely like John Spencer, that at first I was surprised
at his presumption -- & I found the resemblance to be
equally strong in temper & manners -- the other was a Rider --
at Ashborn a woman about 4 times the size of Betty
Shallcroʃs got into our very small Coach, which She half filled --
And had I not been an intruder, I certainly w^d. not have
admitted her -- for two of us were obliged to go on the Out
-side -- I took my post there from Litchfield to Birm^m --
The Air was intensely tart, otherwise that mode of
travelling is pleasant, as one may see more of a Country
than on Horseback -- ten miles from Birm^m. we took up
a person who soon entered into Conversation with me --
in the course of it he entered into a minute detail of
the inside of Warwick Castle which he is perfectly well
acquainted with -- he was the person who bro^-t. M^r. Ladbroke in
for the Town -- w^h. he did from a publick Spirit -- he said he had

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always been extremely attached to the family & would now do
any thing in his power to serve them -- but the manner in w^ch.
the town was treated vexed him & having his Spirits raised
with a bottle of Wine, he unfortunately gave his promise
to M^r. Ladbroke which tho he repented, he Would not retreat --
The Sum of twenty Guineas given in a handsome manner
at a particular time would have prevented Robert's losing his Seat -- but L^d. W——
thought the Inhabitants so much at his command, that
no Act of Attention or Civility was neceʃsary from him to keep
them subservient to him -- This Man's name is Wilmot, Brother
to D^r. W—— of Warwick. he is a painter -- in consequence of his Opposition
to the W^s., he has lost a place &c of the value of 9000L^[1] to him & has been
obliged to resume his profession in Birm^m- which he had left off for
many years He did not know that I was at all interested in this conversation -- it is a pleasant thing to see the Springs of Actions -- At Birm^m- I found there was no room in the
Bristol Coach was just setting out & that the Bath Coaches go
only on three days a Week & that I must stay till Thursday
morn^g w^h. I did not like to do so I engaged a place at the
Swan, to w^h. Inn I removed, for the next afternoon for
Bristol, as I determined to take that Opport^y of seeing
Miʃs Mores -- I went to a circulating Library to get a
Book where I met with a very extraordinary boy of 12 years
old -- he answered my questions in such a manner that I
could not help laughing & supposed that he was aping his
Master who probably might be a pedantick Bookworm
I asked him if he was fond of reading? O yes Sir I read a
great deal. Plays & novels I suppose? O no, I never read
such books as those -- pray what is y^r- favorite Study? Divi
nity Sir? and whose book's do like best? Watts I like but
Watson is my favorite Author -- just then his Mistreʃs
came into the Shop -- who told me “that the little old Man
had made his Election” I enquired on what his choice

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had fallen. She said the Anabaptist Church -- which he said
was the only perfect one -- I left the Shop taking with me a trans
lation of Voltaires history of Peter the great --
Wednesday -- I was engaged in reading till it was too late to
have much conversation with this religious boy when I
returned the book -- There happened to be a Man there who told
me that the Master was so fond of him that he w^d. not be
without him for a 1000L & that if he was his Child & his
only one he could not have a greater regard for him -- The
boy is an orphan -- just before we set out a Gentleman
desired I would give him leave to go in the Coach as all the
places were taken -- As one was a young girl I consented
but afterwards repented, from the additional seat which
a fifth person occasioned -- he was a dissenting Minister
a young Man & agreeable enough -- We had also a ve[ry]
[s]illy weak woman & her Abigail^[2] -- who sat
opposite to me -- the only amusement I had was
in making the Maid laugh at her Mistreʃs's
Nonsense which I did by reminding her now & then
with my knees poor Soul I'm sure Her back w^d. ache, &
God help her for serving such a Fool -- We supped at Worcester
I came on the outside from Bromsgrove & found it extreme
ly pleasant, as the heavy rain in the morning had laid
the dust at Tewksbury I did not feel quite comfortable as
we found that some Accident had happen'd almost every
Night lately and broken bones were spoken of with y^- utmost
indifference -- I  ------------  thought of my dear Mary & her
sweet Bedfellow -- We however arrived safe at Bristol at
7 OClock -- after being 15 hours upon the road without
Sleep and having plenty of disagreeable expectations, no
conversation,  ------  my companions were snoring round me
& to compleat my happineʃs I c^d. not rouse a Servant till
8 OClock when I got some hot Water which I used as a Suc-

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cedaneum^[3] for a warm bath -- changed my Linnen, by w^ch. I was
tolerably refreshed -- The rain fell inceʃsantly till 10 OClock
when I went to Miʃs More's -- I found Hannah & Patty were absent
but received a hearty welcome from the rest -- with whom I spent
a most agreeable day -- diner en famille -- had a great deal of
pleasant conversation & left them with regret at 4 -- when I had
a smart run to be in time for my Coach -- I shall write more
about this visit in my next & shall only now say that They said
there was little doubt of a certain person's having married a common
Woman at Plymouth many year's ago, wh^h. Acc^t. they had from their own

▼

Mother -- I was very sorry to hear it indeed -- I came to Bath at 6 yester
day & was received with open Arms by the Rundells where I spent the Ev^g.
M^rs. Rundell fixed me at M^r. Davis's N^o. 16 Queens Square -- M^r. Rundell say
that a few times bathing will relieve me -- the irritation is owing
to Bile's being thrown to the outward parts of the body where
it is too thick to paʃs thro' the pores -- he told me that a few
Drops of Laudanum would always give me relief -- I'm sure he
loves us both, he wishes to see Louisa -- Sally is just come down
in papillotes^[4] to tell me that Opera house is burnt down
& I'm to say a 1000 things for her -- the best thing I can say is y^t- She
lives by herself & that her Sisters have left her -- God for ever bless &
preserve you my dear dear Mary, kiʃs our dear Louisa for herself & me
think of me & always love me, half as much as you are beloved by
                             Y^r. faithful J.D --
my Love to my Father & Sisters --
I am not to Drink the Waters or bathe till Sunday -- D^r. Rundell -- <sup>[5]

[6]</sup>M^rs. Dickenson --
      Taxal
      Chapel le frith
                             Derbyshire
X Post. --