Teston in Kent 3d. June -- 1786

My dear Friend

      Many thanks to You for
Your kind condolence on my late very affecting
loss, I thank God, it is mitigated by all
the alleviations You mention. The age indeed of
my poor Mother was not great, she was only
65, but her sufferings were extreme, and I feel
that I ought not only to be resigned but
thankful for her release; and now that the
first feelings of Nature and sorrow have given
way to reason and reflection, I trust I am so,
though I suffered very sensibly for a time, and the
uneasiness produced its usual consequence, a
disorder in My Stomach, but my health and
Spirits are now pretty well, and both much

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mended from the sweet place and pleasant
society, I now enjoy. Mrs. Garrick and myself
have been for some days on our annual
visit to our excellent friends Lady Middleton
and Mrs. Bouverie at this charming place,
of both the place, and the ladies, You have often
heard me speak in terms of high praise
      My Winter on the whole was a pleasant
one; I avoided as much as possible those
great assemblies which are almost always
positively disagreeable, and at best have
seldom any thing to interest or delight one. but
I was almost always constantly engaged at dinners
and small parties. I think our friends, I mean
our talking and thinking friends, are grown
wiser, and do not meet in such hordes as we

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used to meet by which means I have had more
real enjoyment of society than usual. Our dear
Mrs. Vesey has not those set Parties at which
You have so often assisted, but as she is
known to be always at home she is seldom
without half a dozen people in an Evening.
Mrs. Carter Mr. Walpole and I, have had
little regular assignations about once a Week,
and when we have been so happy as to
escape an irruption of fine ladies, have
enjoyed ourselves prodigiously. We had a
parting dinner there just before I left Town,
but our dear hostess in one of her delightful
blunders, forgetting whom she had invited, asked
so many others, that it became too large
and spoilt our little project, and then as
usual, instead of enjoying what she had, the

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dear Soul wasted her day in regret for what
She fancied She had lost. I am deeply grieved
to say that I think she declines visibly; I
do not mean that her bodily health is much
impaired, but her sweet Mind is much broken
and her memory greatly shattered. Of this too
she has such a quick perception that she
feels her own decay with the keenest sensibility.
It is impossible not to be interested about
her, especially now that her friends are
daily dropping away; Mrs. Carter her great
dependence already gone, and the rest going.
She has some idea of going to Tunbridge in
the Summer, I hope her Nephew's kindness
will enable her to do it: That Young Man
has won much of my affection by his generous
attention to our friend.
      I do indeed conceive how great must have

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been your joy at the sight of Lady Cremorne
From the perverseness of cross engagements
I have not been able to profit by her obliging
dispositions towards me, as much as I wished.
I was at her house at Chelsea a few nights
ago, to inquire after our suffering friend Mr.
Burrows, who was there for the Air; the Accounts
I got of him were not comfortable; I think his
valuable life in no small danger; they cannot
subdue his fever and cough, and You know he
is a bad Subject for these violent Attacks. His
life is not only a blessing to his family, but
quite a public concern to all who wish well
to the rising race. Mrs. Boscawen, with whom
I dined that day, carried me to Mr. Burrows's
I told her I had just got a letter from You,
She seemed rejoiced to hear so good an Account
of You, and charged me to remember her to You

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I have seen a great deal of Mrs. Walsingham
(I believe her Son is somewhat better) The
Ball on Miss Boyle's birth day last week
was very fine, I was invited, but not being
in a situation to go, I excused myself on
a promise of spending a day in a quiet
way, which I did the very day I got your
letter; I delivered Your Compliments, and was
charged with many civilities in return.
      Mr. Smelt, after whom You enquire, has had
a very miserable time of it ever since
he came to Town. A violent and alarming
Sciatica, has confined him a close prisoner
the greatest part of the time; even his
charming Spirits sank under the severity
of this Attack, but I had the comfort to
see him much better and to wind up my

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Town adventures by spending the evening
with him at Mrs. Ord's, where were also
Mr. and Mrs. Hastings; With the Husband
I was much pleased; There is a remarkable
simplicity in his person dress and manners,
indicative of that excellent good Sense he possesses.
She, You know, is in the other extreme, very
showy in her person and appearance, but of
sprightly and pleasant manners.
      I hear very good Accounts of dear Mrs.
Delany, Miss Burney saw her a week ago,
and found her better than she expected. She
had even courage enough to entertain an idea
of going up to the Abbey Music; one is glad
that she felt bold enough to think of it and more
glad, methinks that she did not put it in
execution, as it would have been too great an
expense of health and Spirits. That wretched

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Woman her Niece has half broken her heart. --
      We go to London next thursday, stay
only one day, then to Hampton for a couple
of days; after which Mrs. Garrick carries
me down to Mrs. Montagu's in Berkshire;
I shall remain with her till the 17th, then
return to my long deserted friends at Bristol;
and soon after establish myself at my beloved
Cowslip Green for the Summer; having excused
myself to Lady Spencer, Lady Mount Edgcumbe
and my other good friends who were so good
as to invite me to leave my Cottage for
their Castles. Direct to me as usual at Bristol.
      Say all manner of kind things for me to Mr. Dickenson
and present my best respects to Lady Wake.
      Mrs. Garrick does not deserve that I should
send her love to You, as she is too lazy to
assure You of it with her own hand.
      Adieu my dear friend! Yours affectionately
                                                         Hannah More