Northampton May 26^th
My Dear Brother
I was yesterday very agreeably surpriz’d by
the arrival of Robert and Charles, they came from Wytham
stay’d only one night and went away early this morning.
so that I had the pleasure of their company but a few hours
and it seems to me now like an agreable Dream, which
I am sorry to wake from so soon. Charles is returned to Stamford
and Robert to Kenilworth. M^rs Johnson and little Georgina
both continue remarkably well, and so are the rest of the Children
I wish you to see them all, for I think they are the most
engaging Children I ever saw in my life, which is not altogether
the partiality of an old Aunt, for others are of the same opinion.
Robert shew’d me a letter of yours from Rome in which
you mention a design of writing to me soon if you have done
so the letter is lost which is a mortification to me. I have
never receiv’d but two letters from you, both dated Geneva
last year, but as you seem desirous of hearing from us often
and Robert has given me a direction to Venice, I am
determin’d to write to you there directly, tho’ I believe
many of my letters have miscarried but that shall not
prevent my writing to you as often as I know your direction
I am very glad your Tour still continues so agreable to
you, I very often wish myself with you, particularly when
you describe the antiquities and Curiosities of Rome.
I {^^have} had a very pleasant jaunt into Bucks & Bedfordshire.
I return’d from Milton about two months ago, I spent my
time very agreeably there with my aunt and those two
charming Girls, who are uncommonly pleasing. Catherine
is in a better state of health than she has enjoy’d a long
time before, which I am very glad of, they are at present
on a visit at Linford: M^rs Uthwatt lately fell down stairs
and put out her shoulder, but she is much better than she was,
M^r Throckmorton has a regular fit of the Gout, he is a very
young man to have that painful disorder, but as he has
always had bad health they are in hopes this will
be of service to him.

[f.27v]

I have had a very kind invitation from Thenford,
where I shall go this Summer, and hope to have
the pleasure of meeting Robert, Nan, and M^rs
Craven there, I shall not go at present, and if
you continue to direct your letters to me here I
shall receive them, I always with great pleasure
the third Regiment of Dragoons is not
quarter’d here, they were Review’d here last
week by General Sloper, I went to the Review
and at night there was a Concert and Ball.
M^rs Leapidge is now at Northampton for a
little time, she looks so old and is so intirely
alter’d that I should not have known her again
M^r John Knightley is married to Miss Baines
niece to the Bishop of Winchester with ten thousand pound,
and Charles Knightley is married to Miss Bolton of
Uppingham, the young Lord Harrington is just married
to Miss Flemming with a hundred thousand pound,
and Lord Percy to Miss Burrel, Sister to Lady Algernon
Percy, and {^^sister} to the Duchess of Hamilton, and to the
M^r Burrel who married Lady Priscilla Bertie, there
is hardly another instance of any private Family
having connected themselves so greatly, I mention
all these matches as you perhaps may not meet
with English Newspapers, the Duke of Ancaster
was going to be married to Miss Child the only
child of the Banker, it is said she will have
sixteen thousand a year, but that match is

[f.28]

now off. Her Father thinking the Duke too wild
and unsettled, I hear he has given up the thoughts
of going to America: the old Duke of Rutland is
dead, which occasions a vacancy at Cambridge,
Charles goes there next week.
The eldest M^r Brown of Walcot (who now lives
at Stamford) is going to be married to Miss Barker
of Rutland a very agreeable Girl.
Charles was in London for a week lately, he went
to see M^rs Williams who is crippled with the Gout.
Charles seems quite stout and hearty, and Robert
thank God is quite well, though scarcely fat
enough for a Justice of the Quorrum, he has a
great deal of business in that way already, it
will enable him to be of great service in the neighbor-
hood, and is I think a Laudable undertaking. I hope
he and Lord Craven will have a pleasant Jaunt into Scotland
This Town is new Paving which greatly improves
its beauty, and when finish’d it will be one of the
prettiest Towns in England
My Aunts here continue pretty well, and always desire
to be kindly remember’d to you. W^m Smyth of Linford who
is still at Rugby School is certain of getting one of those
Exhibitions next year which is a very good thing.
It is said Lord Orford has sold his whole collection of Pictures
at Houghton to the Empress of Russia for a hundred & fifty thousand pound
Your old schoolfellow Colonel Bruce is made aid-du-Camp to the King
and so is Georg Garth. Adieu my Dear Brother, I am always
happy to hear from you whenever you have leisure, and
am very sincerely
your Ever affectionate & oblig’d Sister
B. Johnson

[f.28v]

a Mons. Mons. G.W. Johnson
Chez Mons. Jean Michel Wagnwe
Venise
Recue ce 14. Juin.

Northampton May 26^th
My Dear Brother
I was yesterday very agreeably surprized by
the arrival of Robert and Charles, they came from Wytham
stayed only one night and went away early this morning.
so that I had the pleasure of their company but a few hours
and it seems to me now like an agreeable Dream, which
I am sorry to wake from so soon. Charles is returned to Stamford
and Robert to Kenilworth. M^rs Johnson and little Georgina
both continue remarkably well, and so are the rest of the Children
I wish you to see them all, for I think they are the most
engaging Children I ever saw in my life, which is not altogether
the partiality of an old Aunt, for others are of the same opinion.
Robert shew’d me a letter of yours from Rome in which
you mention a design of writing to me soon if you have done
so the letter is lost which is a mortification to me. I have
never received but two letters from you, both dated Geneva
last year, but as you seem desirous of hearing from us often
and Robert has given me a direction to Venice, I am
determined to write to you there directly, though’ I believe
many of my letters have miscarried but that shall not
prevent my writing to you as often as I know your direction
I am very glad your Tour still continues so agreeable to
you, I very often wish myself with you, particularly when
you describe the antiquities and Curiosities of Rome.
I {^^have} had a very pleasant jaunt into Bucks & Bedfordshire.
I returned from Milton about two months ago, I spent my
time very agreeably there with my aunt and those two
charming Girls, who are uncommonly pleasing. Catherine
is in a better state of health than she has enjoyed a long
time before, which I am very glad of, they are at present
on a visit at Linford: M^rs Uthwatt lately fell down stairs
and put out her shoulder, but she is much better than she was,
M^r Throckmorton has a regular fit of the Gout, he is a very
young man to have that painful disorder, but as he has
always had bad health they are in hopes this will
be of service to him.

[f.27v]

I have had a very kind invitation from Thenford,
where I shall go this Summer, and hope to have
the pleasure of meeting Robert, Nan, and M^rs
Craven there, I shall not go at present, and if
you continue to direct your letters to me here I
shall receive them, I always with great pleasure
the third Regiment of Dragoons is not
quartered here, they were Reviewed here last
week by General Sloper, I went to the Review
and at night there was a Concert and Ball.
M^rs Leapidge is now at Northampton for a
little time, she looks so old and is so entirely
altered that I should not have known her again
M^r John Knightley is married to Miss Baines
niece to the Bishop of Winchester with ten thousand pound,
and Charles Knightley is married to Miss Bolton of
Uppingham, the young Lord Harrington is just married
to Miss Flemming with a hundred thousand pound,
and Lord Percy to Miss Burrel, Sister to Lady Algernon
Percy, and {^^sister} to the Duchess of Hamilton, and to the
M^r Burrel who married Lady Priscilla Bertie, there
is hardly another instance of any private Family
having connected themselves so greatly, I mention
all these matches as you perhaps may not meet
with English Newspapers, the Duke of Ancaster
was going to be married to Miss Child the only
child of the Banker, it is said she will have
sixteen thousand a year, but that match is

[f.28]

now off. Her Father thinking the Duke too wild
and unsettled, I hear he has given up the thoughts
of going to America: the old Duke of Rutland is
dead, which occasions a vacancy at Cambridge,
Charles goes there next week.
The eldest M^r Brown of Walcot (who now lives
at Stamford) is going to be married to Miss Barker
of Rutland a very agreeable Girl.
Charles was in London for a week lately, he went
to see M^rs Williams who is crippled with the Gout.
Charles seems quite stout and hearty, and Robert
thank God is quite well, though scarcely fat
enough for a Justice of the Quorrum, he has a
great deal of business in that way already, it
will enable him to be of great service in the neighbor-
hood, and is I think a Laudable undertaking. I hope
he and Lord Craven will have a pleasant Jaunt into Scotland
This Town is new Paving which greatly improves
its beauty, and when finished it will be one of the
prettiest Towns in England
My Aunts here continue pretty well, and always desire
to be kindly remembered to you. W^m Smyth of Linford who
is still at Rugby School is certain of getting one of those
Exhibitions next year which is a very good thing.
It is said Lord Orford has sold his whole collection of Pictures
at Houghton to the Empress of Russia for a hundred & fifty thousand pound
Your old schoolfellow Colonel Bruce is made aid-du-Camp to the King
and so is Georg Garth. Adieu my Dear Brother, I am always
happy to hear from you whenever you have leisure, and
am very sincerely
your Ever affectionate & obliged Sister
B. Johnson

[f.28v]

a Mons. Mons. G.W. Johnson
Chez Mons. Jean Michel Wagnwe
Venise
Recue ce 14. Juin.