Bath 2:^d Feby 1779

It is with real concern my dear Bro:^r
that I learn you have quitted Geneva sooner than you
intended on account of your health, but I trust as you
say nothing farther about your indisposition, that the
mild climate of Italy added to the exercise of passing
the alps has already perfectly restored you to the good
state of health you usually enjoy. But yet as I cannot
help feeling anxious about you, I hope you will be so
kind to give us as early an account as you conveniently
can, that you are perfectly recovered. I hope this
will find you at Rome. I enclose you an introductory
letter to the abbe Grant, who I understand is the most
useful person to be recommended to at Rome, it is
from a particular friend of the Abbe’s M^r Sandys, who
has twice made the tour of Italy, is intimately
acquainted with the abbe, who he assures me will do
you every civility in his power, and introduce you
to every person you wish {^^{to know}} at Rome. Sandys was a
Fellow collegian of Lord Craven’s and has always been
his particular friend, he is a very sensible man and
much respected both here & in Italy – I met him at
Berkham from whence we are just returned. Lord

[f.83v]

and Lady Craven came here to spend a few days with
us, and wanted us to return with them into Berkshire,
but some engagements we were under making that incon-
venient, we promised to follow them in a few days. We accor-
-dingly went there the middle of Last month and returned
to Bath again last friday. Lord Craven carried me with him
to see Portsmouth, and hear a little of Keppels trial, I was
on every account particularly gratified with our expedition
as I had never been in that part of the world before, and on
the spot one was better able to learn the history of the trial,
which I really believe to be one of the most villainous
transactions in the world, Sir Hugh closed his
evidence of Friday, to day Keppel begins his defence
and as he will have few witnessed to call, the trial will
probably be over in a short time, and so high is he in
every body’ esteem, that it is supposed there will be
illuminations all over the kingdom when the news of
his being acquitted arrives – you will find one letter
from me at Rome which I sent thither in November, and
I hope you will receive the rest in time, as I am not able
to recollect all the things {^^{I have said}} to you. Since I wrote to Rome in
November, I have {^^sent} four letters to you to Geneva dated the
21^st & 29^th Nov:^r 12^th Decemb:^r and 14^th January. I wish in your next you
would say which and how many of them you have received, as I

[f.84]

asked some questions I particularly wished to have answered
you will be glad to hear that the troublesome business of
Exton’s estate is at last brought to a conclusion, he signed
the writings the last day of the old year, sorely against the
grain and I executed what I had to do the middle of last
month, the particulars of the way in which the money was
raised &c I sent you in my last and therefore will not
repeat them. I am heartily rejoiced it is was in my
power to prevent your being disappointed in a purchase, that
had the estate come into Partner’s hands as it certainly
would have done, you would probably never {^^have} had an oppor-
-tunity of making. – I should have been very much vexed
if this business had brought you so long and to disagreeable
a journey at this season as from Geneva to England, tho’
I own we should have been vastly glad to see you, and
it gives me great pleasure that you give us hopes of
your coming home again next summer, which I heartily
hope no accident may prevent. In the mean time you
may depend of my settling every matter that occurs at
Witham as well as I am able, I am glad what I have
hitherto done has your approbation, and will endeavour
that what you I have still to do shall deserve it. – We are
all very well, so were Charles & my sister when I heard of them,
the former is at Stamford and the latter visiting about amongst our
old friends in Bucks. I should like of all things to accompany you
through Italy, it is the Country next to America I most wish to see
but alas! Matrimony though it has many roses, has some few thorns
and with a Wife and family one must be content to make home
comfortable and agreeable, without thinking jaunting about or making

[f.84v]

tours to the continent. I have {^^the} a little scheme in contemplation to
visit the Lakes next summer & perhaps stretch a little way into
Scotland, which if I am able to accomplish I shall be most heartily
satisfied, and that I hope I shall. Nathan Hill (as I mentioned
in a former letter) died latterly at Wytham of the small pox, and
there are various competitors for his land. By what I can learn
Clements V Dale would be glad to take the two cow pastures
with the land {^^{he rented}} between them, which the others {^^{who apply for the land}} are not willing
to do, and Spreckley does not seem anxious about it, I should
therefore undoubtedly let them have it as being the most
advantageous way of selling it; but Betty Marvin puts in
a claim, as having a promise from you of the first piece
of land that fell. I must therefore beg you in your next to
say how I am to act, there will be sufficient time to have
your answer, as they will not enter upon it till Lady day.
Betty wants the Close & the meadow that Nathan had, with-
out taking the cow pastures with it. The young Duke
has been a good deal at Grimsthorpe and is at present
very affable and popular, Charles has been there several
times. M^r Sandys desired me to recommend to your
notice, M^r More a Landscape painter & M^r Merchant
a seal engraver, the former a Scotsman the latter English
they are both pursuing their studies at Rome and he says
have great merit in their different ways. Byers {^^Byers} he
recommends as the best antiquary. There are two
both sensible intelligent men, but a kind of rivalship
leads them sometimes to abuse each other a little.
little William now I shall be obliged to you to

[f.85]

mention it in your next the reception you meet with
from the abbe Grant, as Sandys will probably ask me when
I next see him. He keeps up a regular correspondence with
him, and as the abbe introduces to the Pope I shall expect
to hear of you going through the ceremony of kissing his
Holinesses Mule Little William now runs about every
where, and will be quite a fine fellow by the time you
return. It is lucky he is so soon able to shift for himself
that he may make way for another youngster who we
expect to make his appearance in a few months.
On learning lately the declining state of a Gentle-
man’s health who has two of Lord Leighs Livings I [damaged]
made an application to M^rs Leigh his Lordships sister[damaged]
and nominee) in favor of Charles, and though she di[damaged]
not give me an absolute promise, I have great reason
to believe, he will succeed to one at least of them on
the vacancy, and when he once gets on that line, L^d
Leigh has so many Livings in his Gift that I shall not
doubt to see the Doctor in a short time comfortably
provided for, the present Livings in question are one
£200 the other £150 a year. I need not say to you how
much pleasure this event has given me, as I am
sure you will equally share the satisfaction I shall have
if I am fortunate enough to bring is the scheme to bear.
M^rs Craven & M^rs Johnson desire to be most kindly

[f.85v]

remembered to you, to do Harriet and Maria who often
talk of their Uncle who is a great way off – Adieu
my Dear Brother I shall hope to hear from you soon.

[change of orientation]

A Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson
Chez Mons^r Geovanni Lepri
Rome
Italie

[change of orientation]



and to learn you are well and happy will give
the truest satisfaction to your sincere friend
and truly affectionate
R A Johnson

Bath 2:^d Feby 1779

It is with real concern my dear Bro:^r
that I learn you have quitted Geneva sooner than you
intended on account of your health, but I trust as you
say nothing farther about your indisposition, that the
mild climate of Italy added to the exercise of passing
the alps has already perfectly restored you to the good
state of health you usually enjoy. But yet as I cannot
help feeling anxious about you, I hope you will be so
kind to give us as early an account as you conveniently
can, that you are perfectly recovered. I hope this
will find you at Rome. I enclose you an introductory
letter to the abbe Grant, who I understand is the most
useful person to be recommended to at Rome, it is
from a particular friend of the Abbe’s M^r Sandys, who
has twice made the tour of Italy, is intimately
acquainted with the abbe, who he assures me will do
you every civility in his power, and introduce you
to every person you wish {^^{to know}} at Rome. Sandys was a
Fellow collegian of Lord Craven’s and has always been
his particular friend, he is a very sensible man and
much respected both here & in Italy – I met him at
Berkham from whence we are just returned. Lord

[f.83v]

and Lady Craven came here to spend a few days with
us, and wanted us to return with them into Berkshire,
but some engagements we were under making that incon-
venient, we promised to follow them in a few days. We accor-
-dingly went there the middle of Last month and returned
to Bath again last friday. Lord Craven carried me with him
to see Portsmouth, and hear a little of Keppels trial, I was
on every account particularly gratified with our expedition
as I had never been in that part of the world before, and on
the spot one was better able to learn the history of the trial,
which I really believe to be one of the most villainous
transactions in the world, Sir Hugh closed his
evidence of Friday, to day Keppel begins his defence
and as he will have few witnessed to call, the trial will
probably be over in a short time, and so high is he in
every body’ esteem, that it is supposed there will be
illuminations all over the kingdom when the news of
his being acquitted arrives – you will find one letter
from me at Rome which I sent thither in November, and
I hope you will receive the rest in time, as I am not able
to recollect all the things {^^{I have said}} to you. Since I wrote to Rome in
November, I have {^^sent} four letters to you to Geneva dated the
21^st & 29^th Nov:^r 12^th Decemb:^r and 14^th January. I wish in your next you
would say which and how many of them you have received, as I

[f.84]

asked some questions I particularly wished to have answered
you will be glad to hear that the troublesome business of
Exton’s estate is at last brought to a conclusion, he signed
the writings the last day of the old year, sorely against the
grain and I executed what I had to do the middle of last
month, the particulars of the way in which the money was
raised &c I sent you in my last and therefore will not
repeat them. I am heartily rejoiced it is was in my
power to prevent your being disappointed in a purchase, that
had the estate come into Partner’s hands as it certainly
would have done, you would probably never {^^have} had an oppor-
-tunity of making. – I should have been very much vexed
if this business had brought you so long and to disagreeable
a journey at this season as from Geneva to England, tho’
I own we should have been vastly glad to see you, and
it gives me great pleasure that you give us hopes of
your coming home again next summer, which I heartily
hope no accident may prevent. In the mean time you
may depend of my settling every matter that occurs at
Witham as well as I am able, I am glad what I have
hitherto done has your approbation, and will endeavour
that what you I have still to do shall deserve it. – We are
all very well, so were Charles & my sister when I heard of them,
the former is at Stamford and the latter visiting about amongst our
old friends in Bucks. I should like of all things to accompany you
through Italy, it is the Country next to America I most wish to see
but alas! Matrimony though it has many roses, has some few thorns
and with a Wife and family one must be content to make home
comfortable and agreeable, without thinking jaunting about or making

[f.84v]

tours to the continent. I have {^^the} a little scheme in contemplation to
visit the Lakes next summer & perhaps stretch a little way into
Scotland, which if I am able to accomplish I shall be most heartily
satisfied, and that I hope I shall. Nathan Hill (as I mentioned
in a former letter) died latterly at Wytham of the small pox, and
there are various competitors for his land. By what I can learn
Clements V Dale would be glad to take the two cow pastures
with the land {^^{he rented}} between them, which the others {^^{who apply for the land}} are not willing
to do, and Spreckley does not seem anxious about it, I should
therefore undoubtedly let them have it as being the most
advantageous way of selling it; but Betty Marvin puts in
a claim, as having a promise from you of the first piece
of land that fell. I must therefore beg you in your next to
say how I am to act, there will be sufficient time to have
your answer, as they will not enter upon it till Lady day.
Betty wants the Close & the meadow that Nathan had, with-
out taking the cow pastures with it. The young Duke
has been a good deal at Grimsthorpe and is at present
very affable and popular, Charles has been there several
times. M^r Sandys desired me to recommend to your
notice, M^r More a Landscape painter & M^r Merchant
a seal engraver, the former a Scotsman the latter English
they are both pursuing their studies at Rome and he says
have great merit in their different ways. Byers {^^Byers} he
recommends as the best antiquary. There are two
both sensible intelligent men, but a kind of rivalship
leads them sometimes to abuse each other a little.
little William now I shall be obliged to you to

[f.85]

mention it in your next the reception you meet with
from the abbe Grant, as Sandys will probably ask me when
I next see him. He keeps up a regular correspondence with
him, and as the abbe introduces to the Pope I shall expect
to hear of you going through the ceremony of kissing his
Holinesses Mule Little William now runs about every
where, and will be quite a fine fellow by the time you
return. It is lucky he is so soon able to shift for himself
that he may make way for another youngster who we
expect to make his appearance in a few months.
On learning lately the declining state of a Gentle-
man’s health who has two of Lord Leighs Livings I [damaged]
made an application to M^rs Leigh his Lordships sister[damaged]
and nominee) in favour of Charles, and though she di[damaged]
not give me an absolute promise, I have great reason
to believe, he will succeed to one at least of them on
the vacancy, and when he once gets on that line, L^d
Leigh has so many Livings in his Gift that I shall not
doubt to see the Doctor in a short time comfortably
provided for, the present Livings in question are one
£200 the other £150 a year. I need not say to you how
much pleasure this event has given me, as I am
sure you will equally share the satisfaction I shall have
if I am fortunate enough to bring is the scheme to bear.
M^rs Craven & M^rs Johnson desire to be most kindly

[f.85v]

remembered to you, to do Harriet and Maria who often
talk of their Uncle who is a great way off – Adieu
my Dear Brother I shall hope to hear from you soon.

[change of orientation]

A Monsieur
Mons:^r Johnson
Chez Mons^r Geovanni Lepri
Rome
Italie

[change of orientation]



and to learn you are well and happy will give
the truest satisfaction to your sincere friend
and truly affectionate
R A Johnson