3324 - Edward Baker to Polly Dix, 2 January 1779

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Image 1

Miss Dix
Inclosed I send you a Copy of a Letter I have wrote with my
Left hand & Sent to Mr. Smith as from a Woman & hope it may have
its desired effect, which If you carry on well may make a pleasant joke.
I will endeavour to be at Mrs. Soutten tomorrow where if convenient
shall be glad to See you & Inform you about the Opera
Jan 2. 79 I remain your old Friend
Mr. Smith

Being a Few Evenings ago in Company w.th Miss Dix, I was
very agreably surprized to find you paid your Addresses to her who is
of all my Companions the most Worthy, which I need not tell to a
< Person

Image 2

Person of your Good Sense and tho the Affair which brought
you Acquainted with her was a Foolish one, it was a Lucky Miss &
I hope will turn to your Advantage in ye End.
She told me she was sorry you came when she was in an ill
humour & hoped you would come again. I asked her about you
and she gave me your History as far as she knew & praised you
for an Industrious, Sober, Sensible, Agreable person, insomuch
that I almost Envy her & wish I was so well off.
She is naturally shy which is a Good Quality tho it will
give you more trouble.
She shewed me one of your Cards which I too care to Copy
to write to you tho she begged me to be secret, I will stand your
Friend as much as I can but pray dont let Miss Dix know of
my Writing to you at any Rate.
I wish you Success but pray excuse me from Signing my
Name till another opportunity
Jan 2.

Image 1

Miss Dix
Inclosed I send you a Copy of a Letter I have wrote with my
Left hand & sent to mr. Smith as from a Woman & hope it may have
its desired effect, which if you carry on well may make a pleasant Joke.
I will endeavour to be at M{^ss} Soutten tomorrow where if convenient
shall be glad to see you & inform you about the Opera.
I remain your old friend
Jan 2. 79
M{^ss} Smith
Being a few Evenings ago in Company w{^th} Miss Dix I was
very agreably surprised to find you paid your Addresses to her who is
of all my Companion the most Worthy, which I need not tell to a
Person

Image 2

Person of your Good [?sense] and tho the Affair which bought
you Acquainted with her was a foolish one, it was a lucky [?miss] &
I hope will turn to your Advantage in [illeg].
She told me she was sorry you came when she was in an ill
humour & hope you would come again. I asked her about you
and she gave me your History as far she knows & praised you
for an Industrious, Sober, Sensible, Agreeable person, insomuch
that I almost Envy her & wish I was so well oft.
She is naturally shy which is a good quality tho it will
give you none trouble.
She showed me one [?card] which I took care to Copy
to write to you tho she begged me to be secret, I will [? & land your]
Friend as much as I can but pray dont let Miss Dix know of
my Writting to you at any Rate.
I wish you [?Success] but pray excuse me from signing my
Name till another opportunity
Jan 2.

Details

Edward Baker to Polly Dix, 2 January 1779

Copy letter from a letter book. Addressed to Miss Dix but enclosing a copy of a letter to Mr Smith. Edward wrote it with his left hand and 'as from a woman' as a 'pleasant Joke'; it seems to encourage a courtship between Miss Dix and Mr Smith, and praises their respective qualities.

Baker Family Papers

MS16927

London Archives

1779

1

2

Jan 2. 79

People
How to Cite

To Cite this Letter

Edward Baker to Polly Dix, 2 January 1779, 211779: London Archives, Baker Family Papers, MS16927

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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