4 August 1789 Bath
I sent you a Letter yesterday & informed you that I was going to
M^rs. Hartleys. at 7 I called to drink Tea with M^rs. Rundell, but she was
not returned from some country expedition -- & I found an excuse, &
went on to M^rs. H. where I found a M^rs. Campbell & her young Ladies
who sang a very pretty duet -- one of them played a very difficult Concerto
on the Harpsichord with very great execution -- I don't know whether
my Taste is improved or vitiated but I must confeʃs that what is
called a Harpsichord Leʃson does not gratify me at all -- I have
taken a dislike to the instrument -- & what is commonly called fine
playing, is to me, an expeditious jumbling of Keys -- M^rs. Holroyd
& Miʃs Wilberforce came in for half an hour -- M^rs. H. told me that Miʃs
W. was going the next day to Cowslip Green -- the company went
away before ten & M^rs. H.y—— desired me to stay supper -- in five minutes
a meʃsage came from the Rundells with an invitation to supper w^ch. I
declined of course -- I staid with M^rs. Hartley till near eleven & then
called at the Rundells & staid with them till 12 --
As no Letters arrived yesterday from my dearest Mary I was in
great doubts what to do, as I knew not what construction might
be put upon my letter which gave you an Acc^t. of the inflamma
tion in my Leg &c -- and as you talked of coming to me, I began
to think that might fix your resolution -- however as the
weather seemed so fine I thought it better not to defer my jour-
ney or rather little tour any longer, as I sh^d. be at no short distance
from Bath; accordingly this morning at 8 oClock Set out for Bristol
and called upon Miʃs Mores -- when they told me I had chosen an un-
lucky time as Hannah was going from home, but when I mentioned
Miʃs Wilberforce's intention of going to Cowslip Green, they said, She
must be informed of it & preʃsed me to go on which I then did not in-
tend to do -- I saw the two eldest only, Patty was engaged in the School
I staid about 20 minutes & went to the wells -- D^r. Stonhouse seemed
very glad to see me, poor Creature he has suffered excruciating pain
lately in having a carbuncle taken off his head, which mortified
he never closed his Eyes for ten days & nights -- in the last 48 hours
he has had a little sleep & as he cannot take any medicine for his
old malady the stone now, he is afraid that it may gain too great
a head -- he complains that he is obliged to take a pint of Madeira every
day which confuses him -- he spoke with great affection of his wife &
regard for you -- I desired that I would tell you how happy it made him to see me
so much improved in my Looks, which he said were 500 P^r. Cent better than
when he saw me 2 years ago. I staid an hour with him, he spoke of a
publication of M^r. Hawkins Brownes,^[1] which he thought the best
thing that has been wrote in our Language for some time -- the Subject
is the negligence of the Clergy -- I went from him to Miʃs Milnes
& had the pleasure of hearing that the old Lady was better -- She gave
me a long Acc^t. of the distreʃs she had been in & of her Mother's illness w^ch.
proved at last to be a Bilious Fever -- I staid with her about half an
hour & went on to Cowslip Green -- I was charmed with the
view of Clifton from an opposite hill, on the Exeter road, which

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commands a short view of the river, the rocks, the scattered houses on
Clifton, part of Bristol & the adjacent country all round -- I had a most cor-
dial reception from Hannah More & Patty who was arrived here before
me -- This little Cottage is exactly what I expected to find -- very neat
prettily furnished &c the rooms small -- the little pleasure ground very
well planted with shrubs, & an exceʃsive pretty Roothouse about 50
yards from the house where they generally breakfast & drink tea
it has no pretensions & is exactly what you & I shall like to have
in our grove, as it can be made at very little expence -- I made a
Sketch of it & the house -- We waited dinner an hour for Miʃs Wilber-
force but She did not come to day -- I found Hannah very low She
attributed it to a disagreeable Accident that had happened which
had damped all their summer enjoyment, as there is only one
month that the Sisters can live together here -- a Lady who came
to pay them a first visit was overturned out of a Phaeton (luckily
by her Husband) into a little rivulet near the house; she was
nearly suffocated by the Mud & her back was so much injured
that she could not be turned in bed for 3 weeks -- She was brought to
Miʃs Mores, apparently dead, & was taken away upon a litter -- this
was a terrible thing upon the Sisters, as they have only one spare
bed, & they were obliged to exert themselves to keep up the Husbands
spirits, who was almost distracted -- Patty exerted herself and
was in good spirits of course very agreeable -- I spoke of M^rs.
Garricks coming to Bath with great glee -- a certain person
seemed very cool upon that Subject -- I said: “I suppose you of
course will go to Bath to meet her.” No, She knows my sum-
mer engagements and is so good as to excuse me” -- this appears
to me very odd -- has there been an Eclairciʃsement here -- She
said “probably you will find^[2] there at your return “but this is very
uncertain” which was repeated -- was a friend of mine to come
to a place so near me on Acc^t. of Health & I disengaged -- casual
engagements would be set aside, I fancy -- 5/ at 9 oClock
a M^r- —— who's name I dont at this moment recollect came
to breakfast from Bristol, he is brother to a Clergyman who has
wrote a great deal about the Abolition of the Slave Trade, as this is a
subject very near Hannah's heart, of course nothing else was
talked of -- a thousand instances of barbarity were spoken of, w^ch
struck me with horror, & I thought it impoʃsible for a human
being to be so diabolical -- M^r. C. came with me 5 miles when I
turned off to go to Lady Fusts -- he is a very pleasant young Man
& an enthusiast in the cause -- Miʃs More has lately written
a very pretty thing which she gave me for you -- the Title of it
Bishop Bonner's Ghost -- I am very much pleased with it -- the
whole is a compliment to the Bishop of London^[3] -- in forming a
confession between the two -- She wrote it at M^rs. Boscawen's who
shewed it to M^r. Walpole -- & he insisted upon printing it at

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Strawberry Hill -- (by the way excuse me for saying, I wish that the Roses
Strawberries & Cowslips did not always blow -- they are delightful in
Season to be sure) and he has prefixed a print of Strawberry Hill --
a few copies were reserved for his friends & the rest for the author. --
at 12 I took my Leave with many civil things for you -- & arrived
at Lady Fusts at 2 -- I traveled thrō a delightful Country and
had a friendly reception from Lady F—— who has not been well for
several days -- she is very bilious -- Miʃs Hamilton^[4] was very civil
& attentive -- 6/ This is a small house where Lady F. enjoys retire
ment -- in some respects it is a pleasant situation -- in a fine country
and beautiful views from its neighborhood -- but 11 miles from
market & post Town, & every thing dear & hardly to be got on any Acc^t.
/6/ This morning I took a ride upon the downs which command
an extensive view of the Severn covered with Ships & small
veʃsels & a very fine prospect of the Welsh Coast, & Glocestershire
Lady F. told me the Story of Miʃs Fust's elopement, which is the
blackest affair I ever heard of -- ^[5] /7/ at one oClock to day I left
      Capenor Lodge -- Lady F. wished me to stay a few days
      longer & I sh^d. have been very glad to have complied with
      her desire; but I could not divest my self of my anx-
      iety about you & I had already prolonged my Tour
a day longer than I at first intended -- at Clifton I accidentally
[met] Miʃs Newton's D^r. Patten's nieces, & I promised to dine with
them -- I called upon Miʃs Milnes & found her in good spirits
looking very well -- I had been uneasy about her for she appeared
to be flushed & feverish when I saw her before -- I did not see M^rs. M——
who does not yet admit Strangers -- I staid an hour & then went
to D^r. Stonehouse -- he poor man was but indifferent, but he
keeps up his Spirits wonderfully -- he asked me to dine
with him -- & desired me to say many kind things to you and
to compliment you upon my good looks -- I dined with the
Ladies at their Lodging -- the set was not a pleasant one to me
they seemed very well satisfied, which was well enough -- I did
not stay Tea -- but proceeded homewards where I had the plea-
sure of receiving yours of the 2^d. In^t & my dear Louisa's too
which I kiʃsed 20 times -- Indeed my dearest Wife -- we must
not be parted any more -- I can bear any thing but a sepa
ration from you & no earthly consideration can make me any
amends for the loʃs of y^r- company -- two hearts, so firmly & so aff^y.
united, should be so in every sense -- God bleʃs you -- I love you
dearly, & shall now tell you so in person very soon -- I have just

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been to D^r. Fothergill's -- he was not at home -- I left word that I w^d.
call upon him in the Evening -- It is my intention to leave this place
on Monday 17^th. I shall come leisurely -- to Worcester the first, the
second to Birmingham & on Wednesday Eve^g- I shall have y^e- happineʃs
of embracing you -- if the Afternoon sh^d. not be wet, be so good as to send
Mira to Buxton -- the Coach, I see, by an advertisement, arrives there at
8 oClock -- I can ride home & it will save me 7/6 -- I am not fond of a
Chair from Buxton in the Dark -- & I will not sleep within six
Miles of my dear Mary -- M^rs. Garrick is not come yet -- at
least I cannot hear of her -- I rejoice that my Sisters are going
to vary the Scene -- perhaps it may turn out well -- Sir David
Murray is here -- I like him -- there seems to be an honest seamanlike
Bluntneʃs about him --
                             Adieu God bleʃs you
      I am ever most Aff^y. & faithfully your JD
The harvest is begun & there are yet many hundred acres of Graʃs
uncut -- the weather is now intensely hot -- we have had No Thunder at all

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My Compliments to M^r. Gaskell -- I see his Acquaintance
strutting about with his pupil every day -- I wish he was
in as fair a way to be provided for
When M^r. Cooper writes to my Father, how surprised
he would be to see two ,00,s, instead of one -- I might alledge
that it was only a small mistake of mine --