255 - David Anderson to Christina Findlay, 4-6 July 1789

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[f.80]
My Dear Christina
Saturday 4th July Jack Steuart and I reached Uxbridge
about ½ past 12. Mr Rutherford was gone to London and
was not expected back till late at night. I introduced Jack
to the Housekeeper & Head Usher, and afterwards Mr Tod
who got there before me and I went through all the Bed Chambers to examine
in what state they were kept. We were satisfied with
their Cleanliness & airiness – Having finished our survey
Mr Tod and I accompanied by Jack & my little James
proceeded to the Inn which is about ½ a mile from the
Academy, and there we found Mrs Tod, Miss Tod and
ye young Tods who are Scholars of Dr Rutherfords. Having
introduced Jack to his future Schoolfellows, we all sat
down to Bread & Butter, & Tea & Coffee, and made as
hearty a Breakfast as if we had eaten no Breakfast
before or expected no Dinner after it – I left Jack
in very good spirits. On my Return to
Town before I went to Mr Tods where I was to dine I
could not help going out of my Way to call at my
Lodging, in Hopes that there might be some Letter
waiting for me from You – I was not disappointed

[f.80v]

I found at Mr Tods only a Family party and your Letter had
given me such a Flow of Spirits that I talked almost
incessantly, and xxxxx my Friends were so much
satisfied with my company that they would not
suffer me to leave them till near Eleven at night
They are going to Tunbridge in 1 or 3 Days – Miss Tod
seems very pale and rather sickly –
Sunday 5th
It was a very hot night, and I did not sleep well
I got up early, but as it rained an even down pour
there was no Possibility of taking a Walk – I employed
the whole morning till 12 in writing to James at Buxton and a Letter of
Instruction to Dr Rutherford in which after pointing
out the Branches xxxx of Education in which xxxxx Jack was to be
instructed I desired him to get him a compleat
supply of Cloaths. If your Letter had reached me
whilst Jack was in London I would have detained him
a Day or so in Town for that purpose, but since he
is now at Uxbridge I think Dr R. will be able to
get him provided with every Thing better than ?seemd.
About 12 I put on my Great Coat
and made a shift to get to Conways agreeable to
my Appointment. He observed that I had rather more
Color than when I was last in Town so he made
me sit down till he should alter the Picture to a

[f.81]

Conformity – He worked at it for xxxx half an Hour
and then told me that the Face was now perfectly
finished, and that he himself was highly satisfied
with the Likeness as well as with the painting – of
the former I am not capable of judging xxxxxx, with respect to
the latter I am quite of Conways Opinion – and as at
at all Events it will be an elegant ornament, I shall not spare any
Expence in getting it properly Set – But remember
you are to xxxx allow no observation of the following kind
to be made to You with Impunity – “Lord Madam
is that intended for Mr Anderson? Why this is a
very xxxx fine Face – Or- “The setting is indeed
very elegant but the original Face ought to be something
xxxx extraordinary when one pays so much for the
Picture”. In short my Christina if
these kind of Observations convey any Reflection it is
You who might to answer them, for if it were not
to please You I should certainly think myself guilty
of unpardonable Vanity in bestowing so much Trouble
and expence on my Picture.
About One it became a pretty
good Day and I walked to Mr Hartings. He was
alone and I had a long chat with him. In my
Way I called at Cap: Mackenzies with an Intention
of speaking to him about Mr Brown’s Business – He
was not at Home: I left my Name, and shall write to
him on the subject.

[f.81v]

Sunday – I dined at Colonel Toones – Mrs Toones and Miss
Grey were of the Party which consisted altogether of only
six – I had much pleasant Conversation with both -
with the former about her Domestic Arrangements and
her little Baby: with the latter about ?Aristo, Petrarch
and Metastasis - I afterwards supped at Mrs
Motts who has promised to go with mee to day to
Conway to see my Picture and has undertaken to get
it set.

Monday – I am this Morning very little refreshed – for
I had slept worse than the former night – when I
took up this sheet of paper (which was the first thing
I did after I had put on my Cloaths) a verse of one of the
Persian Poets came into my mind xxxxxx
“I looked with Envy at the Letter which I had written
“ah why should it behold the Face of my beloved, whilst
“I am doomed to Absence!’

3o’clock – I am this Moment only returned from seeing the
Albion Mills, where contrary to my Intention I have been
detained since 10 in the morning – I have broke my appointm
with Mrs Motte, I have scarcely Time to get out to Mr
Cheaps at East Sheene to Dinner, and I am so angry with
myself that even your Kind Letter of Friday which I have this Instant
received can scarcely put me into Humour – a Thousand
Thanks however for your Goodness – may every Blessing
attend You.
Yr ever affectionate
D. Anderson
[f.80]
My Dear Christina
Saturday 4th July Jack Steuart and I reached Uxbridge
about ½ past 12. Mr Rutherford was gone to London and
was not expected back till late at night. I introduced Jack
to the Housekeeper & Head Usher, and afterwards Mr Tod
who got there before me and I went through all the Bed Chambers to examine
in what state they were kept. We were satisfied with
their Cleanliness & airiness – Having finished our survey
Mr Tod and I accompanied by Jack & my little James
proceeded to the Inn which is about ½ a mile from the
Academy, and there we found Mrs Tod, Miss Tod and
ye young Tods who are Scholars of Dr Rutherfords. Having
introduced Jack to his future Schoolfellows, we all sat
down to Bread & Butter, & Tea & Coffee, and made as
hearty a Breakfast as if we had eaten no Breakfast
before or expected no Dinner after it – I left Jack
in very good spirits. On my Return to
Town before I went to Mr Tods where I was to dine I
could not help going out of my Way to call at my
Lodging, in Hopes that there might be some Letter
waiting for me from You – I was not disappointed

[f.80v]

I found at Mr Tods only a Family party and your Letter had
given me such a Flow of Spirits that I talked almost
incessantly, and xxxxx my Friends were so much
satisfied with my company that they would not
suffer me to leave them till near Eleven at night
They are going to Tunbridge in 1 or 3 Days – Miss Tod
seems very pale and rather sickly –
Sunday 5th
It was a very hot night, and I did not sleep well
I got up early, but as it rained an even down pour
there was no Possibility of taking a Walk – I employed
the whole morning till 12 in writing to James at Buxton and a Letter of
Instruction to Dr Rutherford in which after pointing
out the Branches xxxx of Education in which xxxxx Jack was to be
instructed I desired him to get him a complete
supply of Clothes. If your Letter had reached me
whilst Jack was in London I would have detained him
a Day or so in Town for that purpose, but since he
is now at Uxbridge I think Dr R. will be able to
get him provided with every Thing better than ?seemd.
About 12 I put on my Great Coat
and made a shift to get to Conways agreeable to
my Appointment. He observed that I had rather more
Colour than when I was last in Town so he made
me sit down till he should alter the Picture to a

[f.81]

Conformity – He worked at it for xxxx half an Hour
and then told me that the Face was now perfectly
finished, and that he himself was highly satisfied
with the Likeness as well as with the painting – of
the former I am not capable of judging xxxxxx, with respect to
the latter I am quite of Conways Opinion – and as at
at all Events it will be an elegant ornament, I shall not spare any
Expence in getting it properly Set – But remember
you are to xxxx allow no observation of the following kind
to be made to You with Impunity – “Lord Madam
is that intended for Mr Anderson? Why this is a
very xxxx fine Face – Or- “The setting is indeed
very elegant but the original Face ought to be something
xxxx extraordinary when one pays so much for the
Picture”. In short my Christina if
these kind of Observations convey any Reflection it is
You who might to answer them, for if it were not
to please You I should certainly think myself guilty
of unpardonable Vanity in bestowing so much Trouble
and expense on my Picture.
About One it became a pretty
good Day and I walked to Mr Hartings. He was
alone and I had a long chat with him. In my
Way I called at Cap: Mackenzies with an Intention
of speaking to him about Mr Brown’s Business – He
was not at Home: I left my Name, and shall write to
him on the subject.

[f.81v]

Sunday – I dined at Colonel Toones – Mrs Toones and Miss
Grey were of the Party which consisted altogether of only
six – I had much pleasant Conversation with both -
with the former about her Domestic Arrangements and
her little Baby: with the latter about ?Aristo, Petrarch
and Metastasis - I afterwards supped at Mrs
Motts who has promised to go with me to day to
Conway to see my Picture and has undertaken to get
it set.

Monday – I am this Morning very little refreshed – for
I had slept worse than the former night – when I
took up this sheet of paper (which was the first thing
I did after I had put on my Clothes) a verse of one of the
Persian Poets came into my mind xxxxxx
“I looked with Envy at the Letter which I had written
“ah why should it behold the Face of my beloved, whilst
“I am doomed to Absence!’

3o’clock – I am this Moment only returned from seeing the
Albion Mills, where contrary to my Intention I have been
detained since 10 in the morning – I have broke my appointm
with Mrs Motte, I have scarcely Time to get out to Mr
Cheaps at East Sheene to Dinner, and I am so angry with
myself that even your Kind Letter of Friday which I have this Instant
received can scarcely put me into Humour – a Thousand
Thanks however for your Goodness – may every Blessing
attend You.
Yr ever affectionate
D. Anderson
Details

David Anderson to Christina Findlay, 4-6 July 1789

A continued account of David’s travel and business in London / Uxbridge. He has been making arrangements for Jack’s schooling and appears to have just dropped him off at school. They visited an inn where they had bread, butter, tea and coffee. Receiving Christina’s letter has improved his spirits. Miss Todd looks in poor health. He didn’t sleep well because it was too hot, but then too rainy in the morning to go for a walk – he has spent his morning writing. He visited Conways to continue to sit for his portrait. He has dined with the Toones family and discussed their baby. He is angry with himself that due to poor time keeping he has missed an appointment.

Anderson Papers

BL MS ADD 82675 80

British Library

1789

7

[London, England]

[?Scotland]

People
How to Cite

To Cite this Letter

David Anderson to Christina Findlay, 4-6 July 1789, 71789: British Library, Anderson Papers, BL MS ADD 82675 80

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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