7 July 1789 N^o. 18 Queen's Square Bath

7/ This day I spent at home -- 8/ Sir Rob^t. Herries & M^r. Sackville
sent me an invitation to dine with them to day, & left their names, at
4 I went to them & dined in company with M^r. Bowdler & 2 Miʃs Kirkpatricks
with whom they lodge -- at 7 I called at the Milnes, where I heard that
the old Lady was ill -- I left my name at y^e- Isted's, & went to M^rs. Rundells
& staid there a little time from thence to M^rs. Hartley's where I found
an aʃsemblee consisting of L^y Mary & Miʃs Blair, M^r. & M^rs. Farmer, M^r. &
M^rs. Vanbrugh M^r. Hartley Brother to M^rs. H & his young Wife, and Sir
George Paul, &c &c M^rs. Hartley introduc'd me in a friendly manner
to her Brother, & always says when I leave her, “and must you go
so soon” -- I staid about an hour & in my return home stopped for
½ hour at the Earle's who returned yesterday -- I hear they set out
for Spa in a Week -- as soon as I left the Earles I went into y^e- Bath
Today & yesterday we have had a great many heavy Showers
9/ at one oClock I called to inquire after M^rs. Milne's who is very
ill -- she complained of a Cold the last time I saw her -- I sh^d. be sorry if
the old Lady was to die as I have taken a fancy for her -- She seemed so
good humoured & so happy -- when I returned from my Walk I
found M^r. Sackville here, who had brought a friend of his, Major
Murray, to introduce to me -- he seems to be a polished well
bred Man & M^r. S. speaks very highly of him -- he could not poʃsibly
have a better recommendation -- the Major is fixed in this house
which I hope will be a pleasant circumstance to me -- I rec^d. a
Letter from Ingles who has spent a week with Lady Fust -- he
begins his Letter with “Lose no time in going, where a polite recep
-tion awaits you” & concludes with a description -- of the croʃsroads
to the mansion -- Major Murray M^r. & M^rs. Davies & I went to
drink Tea at D^r. Clarkes -- a Comte Neuville his Lady & Daughter
came there &c &c &c we returned at ten -- as we were sett^g out
to go there, my heart beat at the postman's rap & calling my
Name -- I flew to him & found he brought me a Letter from my Love
10/ I don't know how it happened that I sh^d. make the mistake of the
Parade instead of the Square; but I'll vouch for the correctneʃs
of the direction youll find in this -- before I take notice of y^e-
Letter I'll give you to days journal -- at 9 I rec^d. a Note from M^rs
Rundell to desire my company to dinner to day instead of tomorrow
Ias I was engaged to the Isteds I promised to call at one on M^rs. R.
however I made it in my way as I went to Herschells & made
her look grave as I was not very well this morn^g -- I believe I
have an improper degree of delicacy on some occasions, & suppose
that I might take Cold the day I took a Medicine -- on wednesday
Ev^g I bathed which brought out all my Rhumatick pains & the Castor

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Oil hav^g had too strong an effect the day before -- I suppose might all together
affect my nerves -- with the addition of as bad weather as ever was known,
by way of a further digreʃsion I must tell you that hav^g compared y^r- Acc^t. of
the weather with mine I find that when a general rain has commenced
it has been nearly if not exactly at the same time at Taxal & Bath --
I did not stay 5 minutes with M^rs. R but went on to Herschells, where I
played for a full hour, and was much amused, I found my Spirits raised
I shall now tell you very honestly, that if you had not known of my learning
to play that I sh^d. undoubtedly have given up all thoughts ofr expectations of
succeeding on that instrument -- I began seriously to despair -- but when I
cald to mind how often you had expreʃsed a wish that I c^d. play upon
some instrument I resolved to persevere, & am now happy to tell you
that I believe the greatest difficulty is conquered -- I take out the base^[1]
of a common tune now nearly at sight, & am begun to play Duetts
after all, if I am to buy a tolerably good violoncello, you'll be ruined &
undone & I imagine will not trust me alone again -- I went to Bull's
Library^[2] for ½ hour where I met with dismal Acc^ts. from France, and
came home to dreʃs & at 3 went to y^e- Rundells -- I found M^r. R. in the
Dining room, who met me with a long face to make enquiries about
me as he said M^rs. R. had made him uneasy -- he recommended some
thing for me to take to aʃsist the operation of the Water, as he
wrote it down I desired him to do it according to the due formalities
with an R/ at the top & the initials of his name at the bottom, for
in that case I could give him a fee, at which he laughed -- we had no
squalling Brats at dinner -- & dined comfortably -- they have a relation
with them who is wife to an officer in the Ruʃsian Fleet -- I spent
an hour or two very pleasantly with M^r. R. I got him into his profeʃ
sion where he was quite au fait -- I found afterwards that M^rs. R. had
overheard a part of our conversation & charged me w^th- secrecy, which divert
-ed me inwardly -- at 7 I went to the Isted's with a promise to return to the
Rundells as they were to have some Musick -- I was very civilly received by the
whole family -- little hopping Rose enquired after you in a friendly manner
the sickly one was tolerably well to day & very agreeable -- D^r. Fraser & his
Wife who is a very pretty woman & her Sister, who is exactly what I w^d. wish to
Louisa to be in the exterior -- She has very pretty features, a sweet counte-
nance, fine blue Eyes & a delicate figure -- The younger M^r. Throgmorton
came in soon after me, but did not recollect me -- Happening to mention
your name (which I do as seldom as poʃsible) he turned round to Miʃs Isted
to enquire who I was & immediately got up, took me by the hand & seated him
self by me, I enquired about Bell Gunning's match, & was informed
that these Lascelles have very little fortune at present, as there are only
19 of them -- but they look forward to the Harewood estate -- dont you
recollect when we are at Lord Hoptoun's masked ball that I pointed out
a young Man to you whose manner & general appearance was very like
the Prince of Wales -- He is one of them, & is called Prince L—— from his

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aping the Prince -- they are looked upon as very gay young Men -- it was also said
that Miʃs G. was going to be married -- I could not hear the Gent^s. name -- I was told that
he had a place under Government not Digby -- M^r. Throg^m. spoke of George's manners and
his turning his B—— to the fire as great impertinence, & I could perceive that He does
not like him at all -- Charles Rainsford was sat down to Cards &c -- I staid an hour and
returned to the Rundells -- where I found D^r. Richmond^[3] playing upon a
Clavicello -- a very curious instrument -- it is like a violoncello, with
only 3 strings -- & is played upon with Keys for the left hand -- & the right
uses the Bow nearly in the same manner as upon a viol^o. only this lies
flat -- I staid an hour & in my way home left my Name at Sir Rob^t. Herries
I ought here to tell you that when Sackville called upon me he expreʃsed
his anxiety about Sir Robert's taking his wife & Child into a country
where civil contests are looked upon as inevitable & wished that I
would take an oppor^ty of ofmentioning, as it were by accident, my fears
for their safety -- He said, “tho nothing could be so disagreeable to me as^[4]
      to go to France [to go to Fr]ance, yet if he will give up the Idea of taking L^y H. with him
      -- & wishes for com- [& wishes for] [C]ompany, I will set out tomorrow” -- he is a generous good
      Crea [Crea]ture -- Now for y^r- Letter: as soon as I got up this morn^g.^[5]
      a[ft]er I again read [after I again r]ead your Letter my dearest Girl & immediately wrote the
      following short Epistle to your Uncle -- He is y^r- relation and
      you are the best of Wifves -- when a person wishes to serve
      another, the most friendly & delicate way is to come to the
point at once, which is a proof that the heart is interested -- & I hope you
will approve of what I wrote “D^r. Sir -- I rec^d. a Letter by this days post from
“M^rs. D in which she informs me of the inconvenience you are likely to sustain
“from the unavoidable delay of the execution of the Bond; which gives me great
concern -- I came here for the benefit of the waters, & dont find myself well enough
at present to return into Cheshire or I would set out immediately -- If it sh^d. be
neceʃsary for you to make the purchase of a cornetcy for y^r- Son before the Bond
can be executed, I beg you will make use of a 1000£ of mine which I can
procure for you on a very short notice -- I beg you will present my best Comp^s to M^rs.
& Miʃs H. & believe me to be D^r. Sir y^r- obliged & faithful &c”^[6] 11^[7] I called at 10
on Sir Rob^t. & M^r. Sackville, & invited them to dine with me tomorrow which
I know you will think is right -- this morn^g I sat down with a determina
tion to finish this L. & send it off to day, but before I got thrō 10 lines it bro^t-
on a headache which has continued all day -- I went thō^[8] my Italian leʃson
which I shall understand tolerably well before I leave this place -- but this
weather is the most unlucky circumstance for me, as I find it almost
impoʃsible to keep my self entirely free from Colds -- this day has bee rather
pleasant, thō with several showers -- at 12 I went to Rauzzini (you see
what a simpleton you make of me) -- & attempted to sing for ½ an hour -- at
one Herschel came to me -- so that you may see I have not even time if
the inclination was strong, to admit of my wandering thoughts -- but
no Man in poʃseʃsion of such an inestimable treasure as I am, could
ever forget his Wife even for a moment -- therefore I have very little merit
in being faithful to you my dearest Mary -- I paid a visit to M^rs. M. Isted
this morn^g & was graciously rec^d. -- She was at C.m when the King was
there^[9] & is very positive that the Water did him no injury “as he was as mad
when he came there & when he went away” She desired me to call again -- I
always enquire after M^rs. Millnes -- to day I had a bad Acc^t. -- ½ past 6 I went
to D^r. Fothergills -- there was a M^r. Dawson there a favourite of Charlwoods

---

The rain prevented my leaving them time enough to go to M^rs. Hartleys
as I intended, which was a disappointment to me -- The D^r. preʃsed me
to come again on Monday which I promised to do -- he looks in perfect
health & better than usual as his face is quite clear from pimples --
12^[10] I got a little cold last night in return^g thrō the rain, but otherwise
am very well -- M^r. Earle called upon me yesterday, when I was out -- I
afterwards met him & M^rs. E. arm in arm -- he said “he had called on me to
enquire how I was, and to invite me to dine with them tomorrow as their
stay was very short” -- I made my excuses & thanked him for his friendly
attentions to me -- I am very happy in my new acquaintance Major
Murray -- he is one of the pleasantest men I ever met with -- he is lively
good humored, sensible, well informed & extremely well bred -- he has
lived a great deal amongst French Women, which creates a pliability
of manners & attentions which become habitual -- where those charming
qualities are not natural -- It has never ceased raining all morn^g
I have been only once to the pump & the air is so damp that I durst
not go to Church -- I will now take my leave of you, as I see you at
this instant at dinner & the natural Vanity of my Sex induces me to

^[11]
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think, that I see you heave a Sigh & whisper to y^r- affectionate Heart
“How wouldst thou palpitate were my dear Husband to return to thee.”
Louisa. 'not one word about Louisa' -- is it poʃsible? -- God bleʃs & preserve
my dear Louisa -- & her charming Mother -- Adieu ma tres chere
femme, toujours Votre J.D. Tell M^r. D. that the Corn in this Coun-
try looks very well, but the Hay is in a shock^g condition; a great deal uncut --

I heard yesterday that Mosleys complaints had
terminated in a Drops[y] and that he was so much
swolen that he had not be[e] -  moved for several days, & of course
must now be no more.<sup>[12][13]

                             [14]</sup>M^rs Dickenson^{[15] [16]}
                             Taxal
                             Chapel le frith
                             Derbyshire
                             x post