15.

      29^th. August 1791
My Dearest Love -- I must keep my promise
& write to day tho it has cost me some ounces -- as it
is very warm -- you know what London is & how difficult
it is to command time --
Monday -- I had just filled my scanty paper when we were
called down to dinner -- I wished the dinner & paper both
at the devil as I was in the humour to write & sometimes
If I dont write at the moment I think of things they
escape my memory -- After dinner at 6 Eliz. & I walked
out AMaria left us in Oxford S^t. & returned home -- we went
down to the palace thrō the Courts & up the park to the
Queens house then thrō the Horse Gards into Whitehal
we called & drank Tea with M^r. Thompson who walked
with us to the palace -- when we came home the C^r. was sleepy
& went immediately to bed -- I went to Emma & staid an
hour with her & her Mother -- she told me “that she had
laid down such a plan for her conduct on her return
to Naples as She was was satisfied w^d. ensure to her universal
respect & the approbation of S^r. W^m -- She knows that it
would be in her power to make him happy -- that grati
tude, duty, inclination & every consideration would compel
her to do every thing in her power to please him, and
she was certain she sh^d. do it -- ” I told her that Eyes of
many people were upon her, that I rejoiced to hear of
their determination as I ardently wished that she
& Sir W^m. might be perfectly happy -- that I c^d. see
it would be very easy for her to keep up in him
that warmth of attachment which he entertained
for her & that I hoped he would always find Emma
& Lady H.^[1] the same -- &c &c &c -- She enquired how we
had gone on about the EC^r.-^[2] Settlem^t. &c -- I told her
every thing -- She (& every body) expreʃs the greatest
astonishment at Eliz. conduct in choosing y^e- C^r.
Emma's Mother (who seems a shrewd sensible woman)
said “Lord Sir -- yesterday I thought she looked at him
as if she could have devoured him -- she surely doats
upon him” -- Eliz: is thought by most people
to be very pretty -- I was speak^g of Sir W^m. to Emma

---

& said how much I admired him & added that I loved
him -- She aʃsured me there was no Love lost -- for that
He liked me as well -- she read to me a very aff^t:
Letter of his to her from Windsor -- the King joked
him about Em.. at a distance & gave a hint that he
thought he was not quite so religious as when
he married the late L^y H—— He has got leave to
wear the Windsor Uniform the K. said Nobody had
so good a right to ask for it -- (I sh^d. have thought
he sh^d. have given him another Uniform) -- when
I came home I found La Signora had followed her
husband & left me a few oysters which I eat & then
would have written a long letter to my Love, but
all the Doors were locked -- so I went up stairs & when
I was half undreʃsed I heard S^r. R. Herries say what
is he gone to bed so soon -- I threw on my Clothes in a
moment & went down to him -- we had a good laugh
at the Dear Creature's expence^[3] -- Sir R^t. was so
kind to call on me (as he knew I sh^d. be at his house
this morn^g) to inform me when he sh^d be home
as he had several engagements -- he staid half an
hour & then I went to bed -- because I had no thing
better to do -- I called upon M^r. Hamilton in the
course of the day to get a Df^t. on Hammersley for
the 1000^£ as S^r. R. made a demur about the Bond
but he was not at home --
Tuesday 30^th -- at 9 I went to M^r. Hamilton -- staid
there half an hour -- read to them a part of y^r- L. relating
to Rob^t. told his M. how much he loved her &c & said
a great deal in his favor -- fixed w^h- M^rs. H. to call
on her at 12 & went away -- I forgot to tell you
that my reason for going to Emma last night
was to desire that I might introduce AMaria
to her that she might hear her sing -- I told her

---

that I had appointed AM. to come at 10 -- the hour Emma
had fixed for her Masters to attend -- at my return I
found AM -- we with M^rs. P. went directly to Emma
who rec^d. AM. very kindly -- who could not contain
her astonishment at the simplicity of Em. dreʃs --
Emma sang enchantingly -- and Nanny
was quite overcome & diʃsolved in tears at the duet of Nina,^[4] I
was affected too -- Emma thanked her for the compt^s.
that was paid her -- then she sang some lively
ones in a masterly stile -- her Master has not
a good voice -- but great taste indeed -- at 12 I was obliged
to go for the Df^t. Emma told Nanny that one day this
week she was to sing a great deal & shew the Attitudes
      & desired her  -  company -- we are all
      to dine there at 3 -- & then we attend
      her to Romneys^[5] -- I went to M^r.
H's & got the Df^t. -- he began a conversation about R——
his aversion to him is founded principally on R.'s
want of Veracity -- I made a motion to go, but he
preʃsed me to stay, & I saw he wanted to say somet^g
to me -- I desired him to let R. stay a little longer
w^ch. obliged him very much -- he said M^r. Daniel had
written to desire that R. might go to Litchfield Races
but that he thought very improper & as I wished him
to stay a little at Taxal he desired R. would write to
his Uncle to put of his Visit till after the Races --
he talked of your attachment to R. & after a good
deal of hammering^[6] he made a faint proposal, ex
preʃsing a wish that we would take him till he comes
of Age & that we sh^d. be liberally rewarded, I made
no ans^r- & he said he wished to have some Conversation
with me before I left town -- I sh^d. be glad to oblige
him & the young Man but will not lead you into any
Scrape for any Consideration whatever -- I had a
general invitation to Dinner at 4 OClock & f^m. S^r. R^t. Herries
at 5 -- Give my best Love to L^y Herries & tell her how
sorry I am that she means to stay at Taxal only
a few days -- God bleʃs You my dear dear Wife
      In great haste -- but ever tenderly
                             & Aff^y. Y^r. J.D --

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AMaria is gone with Eliz to a dentist to have her
teeth cleaned I have ten thousand things to say
but have not a moment to write -- adieu adieu
Kiʃs the dear pledge of our Love & remember
me kindly to every Body

^[7]
[8]

                             Single Sheet^[9]
                             X
To
M^rs. Dickenson
Taxal
Chapel le frith^[10]
Derby^e-

^[11]
[12]

Typed. F.^[13]