Northampton Dec^r 12. 1778

Mr Dear Brother
I return you a thousand thanks for your
Letter which I receiv’d with great pleasure, and am very
glad you have made so agreeable a Tour thro’ Switzerland
the account of it has afforded me great entertainment. I have
written to you twice very lately, yet as you express a desire
to hear from us often I will answer your letter immediately.
I sent one to you at Rome dated November the 20^th and another
to Geneva Nov^r 29^th since which I have rec^d your letter.
I should write with the more pleasure if I thought my
letters could contribute half so much to your amusement
as yours do to mine, but I have no descriptions to give you
of beautiful places and new scenes, but must content myself
with relating what passes amongst your acquaintance in
poor old England; I thank you for wishing I could pass
conveniently into Italy or France. I assure you there is nothing
I should enjoy so much, and was I a man would certainly
set out directly, but you know women are helpless animals.
and not calculated to launch out so far as their inclinations
would carry them, I hope Charles will be able to joyn you
before you set out for Italy, I dare say he would like the
scheme if he was put in a way to get to Geneve.
I am going in a few days into Bucks, to make visits to
M^rs Throckmorton and to Linford, but I shall not stay a great
while there, and would have you continue to direct your letters
to Northampton, for wherever I am they will be sent after me.
My aunt and Cousin Johnson’s are now here, they have
invited me to Milton but I don’t know that I shall go there this winter,
The Wodhull’s are going to Winton after Christmas and from
thence to London, M^s Wodhull has not yet publish’d his Euripides
but I fancy it will come out next Summer, he has wrote nothing lately.
The young Duke of Ancaster is safely arriv’d in England, which
I am glad of for the sake of his mother who was in great
distress about him. There were great rejoicings at Grimsthorpe,
the Duchess has sent Charles half a Doe this Winter, very civil.

[f.25v]

the bad weather you complain of has been very general, there
have been continual rains for this last month, so that the
Roads are very bad, and the waters very much out.
They have an assembly at {^^Wobourn} xxx this Winter, we have
had two here, and all that next month the Duchess of Devonshire
and a large Party from althorpe are expected, it is to be very brilliant
The players have been here these four months, I have
attended them very often. They acted the school for scandal very
well which I think a most excellent play. I suppose you saw it in Town
The Duke of Northumberland succeeds the late Duke of Ancaster
as Master of the Horse. M^rs Macauly that prodigy of
Literature has lately made a most surprizing match with a
M^r Graham a young man of twenty, and Brother to a Quack D^r
her old Friend D^r Wilson will never receive her again.
M^r Scawen who died lately was Father of Cap^t Scawen who
married M^rs Horneck, the extravagance of the son has
had a fatal effect upon the Father for he was found hanging
in his own handkerchief, and his own daughter was most
unfortunately the person who found him in that situation.
There is a Regiment of Dragoons quarter’d at Stamford
and the Officers keep a pack of Hounds, Charles has
been hunting with them, he tells me everything goes on
very well at Wytham, and the Gardiner has made an end
of pruning the Trees, poor old Trim is well.
I suppose you can get Books of all sorts at Geneva, and
as you are now settled I imagine you have a good deal of
time for reading, I wish I could send you some newspapers,
they are full of debates of the house, where they attack
each other very smartly; and with great Wit and humour.
I conclude you have visited the respectable Mansion
of the great Rousseau late Citizen of Geneva, I should
have a great veneration for the Habitation of so
wonderful a Genius, and wish he was alive now
that you might see and Converse with him, is he not
mention’d with great respect by all his Fellow-Citizens

[f.26]

I shall send this from Northampton, and if it reaches
you safely I will write often, so pray let me know
I met M^rs Lister and the Miss Bates at the Assembly,
M^rs Lister very obligingly desired me to fix a day for
coming to see them at Mears-Ashby, and she would send
the Chaise to fetch me, but I must defer it till I return
out of Bucks, it was extremely civil of her.
I have had a visit from M^r James Miers, who says he
was very well acquainted with you at Rubgy School, and
that he spent part of some Holidays at Chilton and Olney.
it may be very true, but I don’t recollect him, he is now
a private man in the marines and in very great distress
which made him come to beg something, I gave him a
trifle because he said he was your school fellow, but I know
not whether there is any truth in his story.
Kitty Johnson is quite ill again, and under D^r Fothergi[damaged]
care. She looks sadly, I am much concern’d for her,
My Aunt and Nanny are both well. they go to
Milton again next week.
There was a very good Assembly here last Tuesday,
M^rs Throckmorton and her Family and the Miss Knapp’s
were here, which made it very agreable to me. They
have a good Assembly at Newport this Winter, danc’d
seventeen couple at the last, the Blue officers go
over there from hence.
Sir Francis Skipwith is dead, I think you know his Son,
M^rs Uthwait is now here, at M^rs Vincent’s, I din’d and
supp’d with her yesterday, she is as good-humour’d as ever.
Robert and Charles receiv’d the letters you wrote to
them soon after your arrival at Geneva, and they have
wrote to you since. Lady Derby’s Divorce is began
and when concluded it is said she will marry the Duke of Dorset
all your Friends desire to be kindly remember’d to you, I
shall be very happy to hear from you and {^^am} my D^r Brother
your affect, and oblig’d sister B. Johnson

[f.26v]

A Monsieur
Mons. G. W. Johnson
Chez Messeurs. Lullin de Tournes Masbou
a Geneve.

Northampton Dec^r 12. 1778

Mr Dear Brother
I return you a thousand thanks for your
Letter which I received with great pleasure, and am very
glad you have made so agreeable a Tour thro’ Switzerland
the account of it has afforded me great entertainment. I have
written to you twice very lately, yet as you express a desire
to hear from us often I will answer your letter immediately.
I sent one to you at Rome dated November the 20^th and another
to Geneva Nov^r 29^th since which I have rec^d your letter.
I should write with the more pleasure if I thought my
letters could contribute half so much to your amusement
as yours do to mine, but I have no descriptions to give you
of beautiful places and new scenes, but must content myself
with relating what passes amongst your acquaintance in
poor old England; I thank you for wishing I could pass
conveniently into Italy or France. I assure you there is nothing
I should enjoy so much, and was I a man would certainly
set out directly, but you know women are helpless animals.
and not calculated to launch out so far as their inclinations
would carry them, I hope Charles will be able to join you
before you set out for Italy, I dare say he would like the
scheme if he was put in a way to get to Geneve.
I am going in a few days into Bucks, to make visits to
M^rs Throckmorton and to Linford, but I shall not stay a great
while there, and would have you continue to direct your letters
to Northampton, for wherever I am they will be sent after me.
My aunt and Cousin Johnson’s are now here, they have
invited me to Milton but I don’t know that I shall go there this winter,
The Wodhull’s are going to Winton after Christmas and from
thence to London, M^s Wodhull has not yet published his Euripides
but I fancy it will come out next Summer, he has wrote nothing lately.
The young Duke of Ancaster is safely arrived in England, which
I am glad of for the sake of his mother who was in great
distress about him. There were great rejoicings at Grimsthorpe,
the Duchess has sent Charles half a Doe this Winter, very civil.

[f.25v]

the bad weather you complain of has been very general, there
have been continual rains for this last month, so that the
Roads are very bad, and the waters very much out.
They have an assembly at {^^Wobourn} xxx this Winter, we have
had two here, and all that next month the Duchess of Devonshire
and a large Party from althorpe are expected, it is to be very brilliant
The players have been here these four months, I have
attended them very often. They acted the school for scandal very
well which I think a most excellent play. I suppose you saw it in Town
The Duke of Northumberland succeeds the late Duke of Ancaster
as Master of the Horse. M^rs Macauly that prodigy of
Literature has lately made a most surprizing match with a
M^r Graham a young man of twenty, and Brother to a Quack D^r
her old Friend D^r Wilson will never receive her again.
M^r Scawen who died lately was Father of Cap^t Scawen who
married M^rs Horneck, the extravagance of the son has
had a fatal effect upon the Father for he was found hanging
in his own handkerchief, and his own daughter was most
unfortunately the person who found him in that situation.
There is a Regiment of Dragoons quartered at Stamford
and the Officers keep a pack of Hounds, Charles has
been hunting with them, he tells me everything goes on
very well at Wytham, and the Gardiner has made an end
of pruning the Trees, poor old Trim is well.
I suppose you can get Books of all sorts at Geneva, and
as you are now settled I imagine you have a good deal of
time for reading, I wish I could send you some newspapers,
they are full of debates of the house, where they attack
each other very smartly; and with great Wit and humour.
I conclude you have visited the respectable Mansion
of the great Rousseau late Citizen of Geneva, I should
have a great veneration for the Habitation of so
wonderful a Genius, and wish he was alive now
that you might see and Converse with him, is he not
mentioned with great respect by all his Fellow-Citizens

[f.26]

I shall send this from Northampton, and if it reaches
you safely I will write often, so pray let me know
I met M^rs Lister and the Miss Bates at the Assembly,
M^rs Lister very obligingly desired me to fix a day for
coming to see them at Mears-Ashby, and she would send
the Chaise to fetch me, but I must defer it till I return
out of Bucks, it was extremely civil of her.
I have had a visit from M^r James Miers, who says he
was very well acquainted with you at Rubgy School, and
that he spent part of some Holidays at Chilton and Olney.
it may be very true, but I don’t recollect him, he is now
a private man in the marines and in very great distress
which made him come to beg something, I gave him a
trifle because he said he was your school fellow, but I know
not whether there is any truth in his story.
Kitty Johnson is quite ill again, and under D^r Fothergi[damaged]
care. She looks sadly, I am much concerned for her,
My Aunt and Nanny are both well. they go to
Milton again next week.
There was a very good Assembly here last Tuesday,
M^rs Throckmorton and her Family and the Miss Knapp’s
were here, which made it very agreeable to me. They
have a good Assembly at Newport this Winter, danced
seventeen couple at the last, the Blue officers go
over there from hence.
Sir Francis Skipwith is dead, I think you know his Son,
M^rs Uthwait is now here, at M^rs Vincent’s, I dined and
supped with her yesterday, she is as good-humoured as ever.
Robert and Charles received the letters you wrote to
them soon after your arrival at Geneva, and they have
wrote to you since. Lady Derby’s Divorce is began
and when concluded it is said she will marry the Duke of Dorset
all your Friends desire to be kindly remembered to you, I
shall be very happy to hear from you and {^^am} my D^r Brother
your affect, and obliged sister B. Johnson

[f.26v]

A Monsieur
Mons. G. W. Johnson
Chez Messeurs. Lullin de Tournes Masbou
a Geneve.