1357 - Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson, 25 Jan ?1780

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Image #2 of letter: Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson, 25 Jan ?1780
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Dear Brother
As Lord Craven has been so obliging to
ask me to accompany him to Town for a few days the beginning
of next month, and you talked of going to London after
Christmas I am not without hopes of having the satisfaction
of meeting you there, but as my stay will be very short
and it would be very mortifying to miss each other by not
knowg: in what part of London we Lodge, I take this oppo-
-tunity of saying you may certainly hear of me at Lord
Craven’s house in Charles Street Berkely square, and if
you have any thoughts of being In Town about the
same time I shall hope to have a line to say where
you mean to take up your abode. – I came here
yesterday sennight, and on monday last Lord Craven carried
me up with him to the meeting of Parliament, but
as there was no business likely to come on till the
second of February, we returned here again on Wednesday
and shall not go to Town again till that day. This
is a sweet place, and they have built a most comfortable
house on the same spot where the old one that was burnt
stood. The Park is not quite contiguous to it, but as you

[f.72v]

have a fine view of it from the House, it is almost
as well as if it joined. It is a most delightful spot, and
they have greatly improved it, though much remains still
to be done. It is so central too, being just half way
between Bath and London, {^and} at no great distance from
Oxford, that it is really one of the most eligible situations in
England. My head is much better than it was, so I
trust I have in great measure got the better of my complaint.
I left Mrs Craven, Mrs Johnson and the little folks at Bath
they were all very well when I heard last from them.
There is little public news in London Lord Cornwallis
certainly brought home very indifferent accounts of the
state of our army and navy, the men in general very
unhealthy from having been confined so long to salt provisions
and scare any fresh provisions to be got, in Philadelphia, Beef
was four shillings a pound and butter eight, and bread
hardly to be got at any price. A letter directed to me
under cover to Lord Craven either here or in London will
be sure to find me. Adieu my dear Brother
Believe me most cordially yours
R. A. Johnson
Sunday 25th Jany:about 1780
Benhams Place
Newbury
Berks.
Dear Brother
As Lord Craven has been so obliging to
ask me to accompany him to Town for a few days the beginning
of next month, and you talked of going to London after
Christmas I am not without hopes of having the satisfaction
of meeting you there, but as my stay will be very short
and it would be very mortifying to miss each other by not
knowing: in what part of London we Lodge, I take this oppo-
-tunity of saying you may certainly hear of me at Lord
Craven’s house in Charles Street Berkeley square, and if
you have any thoughts of being In Town about the
same time I shall hope to have a line to say where
you mean to take up your abode. – I came here
yesterday sennight, and on Monday last Lord Craven carried
me up with him to the meeting of Parliament, but
as there was no business likely to come on till the
second of February, we returned here again on Wednesday
and shall not go to Town again till that day. This
is a sweet place, and they have built a most comfortable
house on the same spot where the old one that was burnt
stood. The Park is not quite contiguous to it, but as you

[f.72v]

have a fine view of it from the House, it is almost
as well as if it joined. It is a most delightful spot, and
they have greatly improved it, though much remains still
to be done. It is so central too, being just half way
between Bath and London, {^and} at no great distance from
Oxford, that it is really one of the most eligible situations in
England. My head is much better than it was, so I
trust I have in great measure got the better of my complaint.
I left Mrs Craven, Mrs Johnson and the little folks at Bath
they were all very well when I heard last from them.
There is little public news in London Lord Cornwallis
certainly brought home very indifferent accounts of the
state of our army and navy, the men in general very
unhealthy from having been confined so long to salt provisions
and scare any fresh provisions to be got, in Philadelphia, Beef
was four shillings a pound and butter eight, and bread
hardly to be got at any price. A letter directed to me
under cover to Lord Craven either here or in London will
be sure to find me. Adieu my dear Brother
Believe me most cordially yours
R. A. Johnson
Sunday 25th Jany:about 1780
Benhams Place
Newbury
Berks.
Details

Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson, 25 Jan ?1780

Discussion of their respective plans to be in London in February, and Robert’s hopes that they will be able to meet – he passes on details of how George may enquire after his whereabouts. A discussion of (Lord Craven’s) country house in Newbury, and the fine views of the park land. Robert’s head is much better, he thinks he has recovered from his complaint, and his wife and children were very well at Bath the last time he heard from them. Discussion of the state of British troops in Philadelphia – they are in poor health due to being on a diet of salted provisions only, with no fresh food available.

Johnson Family

MS. Don. c. 193 72

Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

178

1

25

Benhams Place, Newbury, Berkshire [England]

[England]

People
Person: Robert Augustus Johnson
View full details of Person: Robert Augustus Johnson

primary author

head

  • looking
  • travel
  • visiting

  • recovery
  • well

hopeful

  • rural
  • urban

health - improving

Person: George William Johnson
View full details of Person: George William Johnson

primary addressee

  • travel
  • visiting

urban

How to Cite

To Cite this Letter

Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson, 25 Jan ?1780, 251: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Johnson Family, MS. Don. c. 193 72

To Cite this Edition

Material Identities, Social Bodies: Embodiment in British Letters c.1680-1820. Compiled by: Karen Harvey, Helen Esfandiary, Sarah Fox, Emily Vine, University of Birmingham. Project funded by the Leverhulme Trust (2021-2025, Ref. RPG-2020-163), https://socialbodies.bham.ac.uk.

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