Kenilworth 24^th July 1777
I shall venture a letter to Perth, though
I have unintentionally deferred writing later than I meant
to have done, but I trust this will get there before you, for
I conclude the present delightful weather will tempt you to go
far north of Inverness. We have here as well as {^^you} in the
Highlands had one of the wetest summers that ever was
remembered, hardly a dry day {^^{from the time}} xxx since I left Wytham, till
the sixteenth of this month, when quinta brought about an
alteration, and since then we have had nothing but sun-
shine, I hope it has reached the Orkneys, and that you
partake of its cheering rays. The description you give
me of your tour affords me great pleasure, and at the
same time greatly encreases the desire I have ever had to
visit Scotland, but whether I shall ever be able to
accomplish it or not is one of those things that time
only can discover, but if ever I am so lucky I shall I
am sure find the hints you have given me of the
greatest service. In books people are so apt to embellish
their descriptions that one hardly knows what to rely on.
I am sorry you find our name a disadvantage, but I concluded
you would, Johnston’s tour is wrote in a stile that must
disgust a people so national and united as the Scotch, your
visit will convince them that the Johnston’s and Johnson’s

[f.64v]

are not more different in family than in disposition. I long
to hear your account of Staffa, Bank’s views of Fingal’s cave
and the different parts of that wonderful Island had one
to form the most romantic ideas of it. I see by the
papers that the Duke of Argyle is since dead, I think
with Gil-Blas that a man surrounded with such a tribe
of physical folks had little chance to recover. I should
have liked to have seen Charles’s face when he was
forced to go three miles farther on his journey and instead
of good quarters and sumptuous living, forced to put up with
wretched fare in a miserable hut – We were
the whole week before last in daily expectation of seeing
M^r and M^rs Liddiard here, but he has been ill again, not
so bad though as he is sometimes, so we still hope to
see them shortly – I am going in a few days to Stratford
races, Ingram is Steward there this year, and I have
some curiosity to see him as Master of the ceremonies
landing the Misses out to dance minuets. By the by
we have lost our Master of ceremonies at Bath, and
there is a strong competition to succeeds him. Wade was
the last man in the world any body would have suspect-
-ted of intriguing, but he has had the ill luck to be
catched in bed with another mans wife, and a woman
too who is neither young nor handsome and has half
-score children, her name is Cambell. I wish I could
send you thing that would amuse you in return for your
most entertaining descriptions, but as that is out of my

[f.65]

power, you must accept the will for the deed. We have
lost Doctor Wilmot, M^r Sumner the Vicar is come to reside,
Charles must remember him at Cambridge, he is a son of
Churchills Pandarns, but a very agreeable young man
and a great acquisition to this place. – We are all
very well, the two little Girls escape the small pox still,
M^rs Craven and Madam Ann desire their best respects, to you
and Charles, pray my kind love to him. My sister
is just gone to make a visitation at Thenford, she got
there yesterday I believe. Nanny Ingram has been very
ill but is now better again. Pray tell Charles the little
Mare has got a Colt fole which we are not a little proud
of. I had lately a letter from M^rs Williams, she [damaged]
in a deplorable way, and has been lately laid up [damaged]
gout in both her hands – I think from your [damaged]
you rather seem to prefer Lock Tay to Loch Lomond, the
latter may be so greatly admired perhaps from the others
not having been so generally known. I am glad to
hear Jack is grown so expert at the Ferries, his is a sensible
horse to remember that swimming or drowning is the consequence
on not embarking. Adieu my dear Brother, pray
continue to let me hear from you as your proceed
in your tour, I fear after the striking prospects you
will have left behind you, Derbyshire will appear on
a very small scale. Believe me most sincerely your
affectionate R A Johnson

[f.65v]

To
George Will^m Johnson Esq^r
at Perth
in
Scotland

To be left at
the post office till
called for

Kenilworth 24^th July 1777
I shall venture a letter to Perth, though
I have unintentionally deferred writing later than I meant
to have done, but I trust this will get there before you, for
I conclude the present delightful weather will tempt you to go
far north of Inverness. We have here as well as {^^you} in the
Highlands had one of the wettest summers that ever was
remembered, hardly a dry day {^^{from the time}} xxx since I left Wytham, till
the sixteenth of this month, when quinta brought about an
alteration, and since then we have had nothing but sun-
shine, I hope it has reached the Orkneys, and that you
partake of its cheering rays. The description you give
me of your tour affords me great pleasure, and at the
same time greatly increases the desire I have ever had to
visit Scotland, but whether I shall ever be able to
accomplish it or not is one of those things that time
only can discover, but if ever I am so lucky I shall I
am sure find the hints you have given me of the
greatest service. In books people are so apt to embellish
their descriptions that one hardly knows what to rely on.
I am sorry you find our name a disadvantage, but I concluded
you would, Johnston’s tour is wrote in a stile that must
disgust a people so national and united as the Scotch, your
visit will convince them that the Johnston’s and Johnson’s

[f.64v]

are not more different in family than in disposition. I long
to hear your account of Staffa, Bank’s views of Fingal’s cave
and the different parts of that wonderful Island had one
to form the most romantic ideas of it. I see by the
papers that the Duke of Argyle is since dead, I think
with Gil-Blas that a man surrounded with such a tribe
of physical folks had little chance to recover. I should
have liked to have seen Charles’s face when he was
forced to go three miles farther on his journey and instead
of good quarters and sumptuous living, forced to put up with
wretched fare in a miserable hut – We were
the whole week before last in daily expectation of seeing
M^r and M^rs Liddiard here, but he has been ill again, not
so bad though as he is sometimes, so we still hope to
see them shortly – I am going in a few days to Stratford
races, Ingram is Steward there this year, and I have
some curiosity to see him as Master of the ceremonies
landing the Misses out to dance minuets. By the by
we have lost our Master of ceremonies at Bath, and
there is a strong competition to succeeds him. Wade was
the last man in the world any body would have suspect-
-ted of intriguing, but he has had the ill luck to be
catched in bed with another mans wife, and a woman
too who is neither young nor handsome and has half
-score children, her name is Cambell. I wish I could
send you thing that would amuse you in return for your
most entertaining descriptions, but as that is out of my

[f.65]

power, you must accept the will for the deed. We have
lost Doctor Wilmot, M^r Sumner the Vicar is come to reside,
Charles must remember him at Cambridge, he is a son of
Churchills Pandarns, but a very agreeable young man
and a great acquisition to this place. – We are all
very well, the two little Girls escape the small pox still,
M^rs Craven and Madam Ann desire their best respects, to you
and Charles, pray my kind love to him. My sister
is just gone to make a visitation at Thenford, she got
there yesterday I believe. Nanny Ingram has been very
ill but is now better again. Pray tell Charles the little
Mare has got a Colt foal which we are not a little proud
of. I had lately a letter from M^rs Williams, she [damaged]
in a deplorable way, and has been lately laid up [damaged]
gout in both her hands – I think from your [damaged]
you rather seem to prefer Lock Tay to Loch Lomond, the
latter may be so greatly admired perhaps from the others
not having been so generally known. I am glad to
hear Jack is grown so expert at the Ferries, his is a sensible
horse to remember that swimming or drowning is the consequence
on not embarking. Adieu my dear Brother, pray
continue to let me hear from you as your proceed
in your tour, I fear after the striking prospects you
will have left behind you, Derbyshire will appear on
a very small scale. Believe me most sincerely your
affectionate R A Johnson

[f.65v]

To
George Will^m Johnson Esq^r
at Perth
in
Scotland

To be left at
the post office till
called for