Bath Friday
6 ^th March 1778

Dear Brother
I had not an opportunity of seeing
M^r Slaney ‘till this morning, or I would sooner have
thanked you for your kind letter. As I found I
was not acquainted with any body who was at all
intimate with M^r Slaney, there was little probability
of my getting introduced to him. So this morning
I wrote a note to say I wished to make some enquiries
about Cesar Barbarge, and would wait on him at any
time he should appoint for that purpose, but he
anticipated me by calling with his son (the young man
Barbage was abroad with) on me, as soon as he got my
note. They both give Barbage the highest character
for sobriety and integrity. The Father said, he was
obliged to send his son (not then fifteen) to the south of
France for the recovery of his health, that Barbage
was recommended to him as a person in whom he
might place the most implicit confidence, by Mr
Clive the Banker and he had found no reason to
alter the good opinion he was led to form of him.

[f.74v]

The son confirmed this account, and added he had
always found him attentive and diligent, very conversary
in the business of travelling; xxx that he spoke
remarkably good French, and dressed hair very well.
From not understanding Italian himself, he was not
so well able to judge how far he was master of that
language, but believed he was not so perfect in that
as in French. He was with him a twelve month, the
greatest part of the time at Marseilles, he added that
the only fault he had to find with him was, that
he was rather assuming and apt to take too much
upon him. This I think may in some measure
be accounted for, from the youth and inexperience
of his master; a man who could write the letter to a
servant, that we saw, could have little reason to
expect much respect. {^^{from him}} However it is xxx as well
to be guarded against this failing.
I am glad you enjoyed being in London so much,
but I never thought you altered by the retired manner
in which you have lived of late, the kind reception
you have ever given me when I have been at
Wytham has convinced me you were not. The same

[f.75]

kind attention and affectionate friendship are as
conspicuous now as they ever were in you, and
I heartily rejoice my dear Brother that you are now
again going to enjoy a life you are so well fitted
for. The easiness with which connections are formed,
and the unreservedness of the generality of people one
meets with on the Continent, will I know particularly
suit you, and I heartily wish a French war may not
happen to disappoint you of that part of your tour.
It has occurred to me since I saw you, that if you
mean to stay at all in Paris, something more than
a general letter of recommendation to L^d Stormont, would
be particularly useful to you. Could not L^d: Exeter help
you in that respect.? I will certainly not be
in my power to be at Witham will May, but
I will be with you as early in the month as I am
able, which I hope will be some days before the
tenth, that we may have sufficient time to settle
all matters without being hurried by your wishing
to set out. I wrote to you soon after I got to
Bath, which I conclude you received before you left
London. M^r Knightley’s note was of no consequence

[f.75v]

M^r Shipwith was so kind to undertake the entire
management of that business for me. How do you
go on with your planting? I fear the weather is
not very favourable to you. You will be so good to
let us have an account of your motions, I suppose
you will not be able to leave Wytham just yet,
Tell me how you like your new man too? It will
be a great advantage to serve so good an apprentiship
to the language before you reach Calais. M^rs
Johnson desires her best wishes to you, she and my
little folks are very well, the Boy perfectly so,
and grows apace. We had yesterday a very bad
account of poor Liddiard, he is again so ill as
to be obliged to send for a Physician from hence,
M^rs Craven accompanied the Doctor to Rockley yesterday
he is come back to day, and left Liddiard very
ill indeed, I fear with little hopes of his recovering.
Pray give my love to the Doctor when you see him
and tell him my Dears are much mended by M^r
Maule’s applications which I still continue. I hear very
near as well as ever I did with my right ear, & my
left is much better. Adieu my dear Brother
Believe me most cordially yours RAJ.

Bath Friday
6 ^th March 1778

Dear Brother
I had not an opportunity of seeing
M^r Slaney ‘till this morning, or I would sooner have
thanked you for your kind letter. As I found I
was not acquainted with any body who was at all
intimate with M^r Slaney, there was little probability
of my getting introduced to him. So this morning
I wrote a note to say I wished to make some enquiries
about Cesar Barbarge, and would wait on him at any
time he should appoint for that purpose, but he
anticipated me by calling with his son (the young man
Barbage was abroad with) on me, as soon as he got my
note. They both give Barbage the highest character
for sobriety and integrity. The Father said, he was
obliged to send his son (not then fifteen) to the south of
France for the recovery of his health, that Barbage
was recommended to him as a person in whom he
might place the most implicit confidence, by Mr
Clive the Banker and he had found no reason to
alter the good opinion he was led to form of him.

[f.74v]

The son confirmed this account, and added he had
always found him attentive and diligent, very conversary
in the business of travelling; xxx that he spoke
remarkably good French, and dressed hair very well.
From not understanding Italian himself, he was not
so well able to judge how far he was master of that
language, but believed he was not so perfect in that
as in French. He was with him a twelve month, the
greatest part of the time at Marseilles, he added that
the only fault he had to find with him was, that
he was rather assuming and apt to take too much
upon him. This I think may in some measure
be accounted for, from the youth and inexperience
of his master; a man who could write the letter to a
servant, that we saw, could have little reason to
expect much respect. {^^{from him}} However it is xxx as well
to be guarded against this failing.
I am glad you enjoyed being in London so much,
but I never thought you altered by the retired manner
in which you have lived of late, the kind reception
you have ever given me when I have been at
Wytham has convinced me you were not. The same

[f.75]

kind attention and affectionate friendship are as
conspicuous now as they ever were in you, and
I heartily rejoice my dear Brother that you are now
again going to enjoy a life you are so well fitted
for. The easiness with which connections are formed,
and the unreservedness of the generality of people one
meets with on the Continent, will I know particularly
suit you, and I heartily wish a French war may not
happen to disappoint you of that part of your tour.
It has occurred to me since I saw you, that if you
mean to stay at all in Paris, something more than
a general letter of recommendation to L^d Stormont, would
be particularly useful to you. Could not L^d: Exeter help
you in that respect.? I will certainly not be
in my power to be at Witham will May, but
I will be with you as early in the month as I am
able, which I hope will be some days before the
tenth, that we may have sufficient time to settle
all matters without being hurried by your wishing
to set out. I wrote to you soon after I got to
Bath, which I conclude you received before you left
London. M^r Knightley’s note was of no consequence

[f.75v]

M^r Shipwith was so kind to undertake the entire
management of that business for me. How do you
go on with your planting? I fear the weather is
not very favourable to you. You will be so good to
let us have an account of your motions, I suppose
you will not be able to leave Wytham just yet,
Tell me how you like your new man too? It will
be a great advantage to serve so good an apprenticeship
to the language before you reach Calais. M^rs
Johnson desires her best wishes to you, she and my
little folks are very well, the Boy perfectly so,
and grows apace. We had yesterday a very bad
account of poor Liddiard, he is again so ill as
to be obliged to send for a Physician from hence,
M^rs Craven accompanied the Doctor to Rockley yesterday
he is come back to day, and left Liddiard very
ill indeed, I fear with little hopes of his recovering.
Pray give my love to the Doctor when you see him
and tell him my Dears are much mended by M^r
Maule’s applications which I still continue. I hear very
near as well as ever I did with my right ear, & my
left is much better. Adieu my dear Brother
Believe me most cordially yours RAJ.