Maundy Thursday 1786

My Pretty dear Charlotte I begin to be quite unreasonable
at not hearing from my Little Girl for I hardly reckoned the
few lines which enclosed the Mere Generale's letter (tho I had
not received them when I made my first complaint to you). But
last post brought me such a pretty letter that I have been quite
raised and happy again. You are very good to think about my
health. It is in general very good so is your Papa. But in
the winter I was for a few days a good deal out of order &
being obliged to write to Pere Arnout before I had quite recovered
my strength. I mentioned my indisposition as a neat excuse for not
being able to write at the same time to your brother: this is how
they came to know of it, when my little Charlotte did not for it
was so soon over, that I did not think any more about the matter.
The Mere Generale desires to know if she shall buy you a taffita
this summer which you may tell her yes by all means if you
like it. The muslin gown shall be of your wardrobe just the
same, as they will both be useful. But I am distressed how
to send it from England as they are grown particularly severe
at the custom house, & the summer coming on will not let me wait
for an opportunity. But as I imagine you don't like the Generale

to buy the muslin I will write to Lady Belmore (who takes
it as a favor to be employed for you) to ask her to get you
one. it will be the easiest method & you will have it the sooner
the taffeta Lady Belmore bought you the last year was extremely
cheap. I suppose it was a very slight one but as it is only for
the season I think it is better for to have such another than
buy a dear thing that has no other merit but being a little
stiffer. Let me know if you approve of this {?partage} then
I shall write immediately reckoning upon my Little Girls
consent. Lutestrings are useful for lining of slight patterns. Therefore
you must keep what you have as next winter you may
want linings. How happy I shall be to see my little tall girl.
Pray let me know if you are much grown that
I may accustom my ideas to see you. It will certainly not
be later than September that I shall have the joy of opening my
dear Charlotte's {?bags}. As for a maid I think that it would be
to your advantage to continue having a French one. Molly remaining
with me, it is the same thing to her. Therefore if you like the girl
that was sent upon you that is to say if she is what you think
will suit you hereafter you may if she will engage herself keep

her to yourself when the two other girls go away. But if
they choose to take her or that you don't agree it will suit
you so well as another might do then let her go & I will
desire the Mere Generale to engage one for you to remain with
you sola and if you like it you may have their room when they
go away as it will not be very long. You know what sort of
a person would be useful. She should be very hardy, dress hair
caps &c and have good principles. Let me know how you like
this arrangement. It will yet be necessary for you to continue
speaking French & I think this would be the best method. Of retaining
the custom of it in a familiar way. I hope I have again guessed
my little girls wishes. I reckon you are all in devotion
to day. I shall think of you
tomorrow as I remember last year you
told me of being in the church a great many
hours. I am glad Madame de la Force invited you to
her breakfast. Pray give my compliments to her. They may say in the
convent what they please but Mr de Chabrillants affair is a fact,
and a very paltry one too. I did not know that I had seen
Mr Hawkins in London but Sir William tells me that he was one
night at the Play when I was there. I have formerly met him at
the chappel & spoken to him. He is I think rather a little man
reckoned cleaver enough. Talks a good deal. He was at Doway
with yr Papa & in the same school. I saw Miss Hawkins’ picture
in London at a Mrs French's in the City. They have some settlement at
St Christophers in America and my brother protected them when he was

governor of the Island so that they had quite an adoration
almost for Him & insisted upon giving him and all of us a dinner.
Mrs French told me that she heard great praises of you by the
Hawkins family transmitted I imagine by their daughter & I like
her for it. She has her hair down in the picture but it is very {?ill}
done. ask her about the French’s. If she is not acquainted with them
they seemed to be mighty good sort of people. I have told you
certainly of the death of poor Mr Bacon. It happened about a month
ago. Mrs Bacon has Earlham & everything for her life.

Miss Band only a legacy of 100^ll at present so that she continues
dependent upon Mrs Bacon which is I think not right as she was
Mr Bacons relation and had attended upon him as a daughter. Mrs Gordon
at Norwich lay in last week of another son. This makes the 11th child.
I believe she never will leave off. The eldest son is somewhere in France for his
improvement. The girls unmarried at Norwich. Adieu my pretty dear Charlotte

[change of orientation]
France p^as p^d to London
Madmoiselle
A Mademoiselle Jerningham aux Dames
Ursulines Rue St Jacques
a Paris

Maundy Thursday 1786

My Pretty dear Charlotte I begin to be quite unreasonable
at not hearing from my Little Girl for I hardly reckoned the
few lines which enclosed the Mere Generale's letter (though I had
not received them when I made my first complaint to you). But
last post brought me such a pretty letter that I have been quite
raised and happy again. You are very good to think about my
health. It is in general very good so is your Papa. But in
the winter I was for a few days a good deal out of order &
being obliged to write to Pere Arnout before I had quite recovered
my strength. I mentioned my indisposition as a neat excuse for not
being able to write at the same time to your brother: this is how
they came to know of it, when my little Charlotte did not for it
was so soon over, that I did not think any more about the matter.
The Mere Generale desires to know if she shall buy you a taffita
this summer which you may tell her yes by all means if you
like it. The muslin gown shall be of your wardrobe just the
same, as they will both be useful. But I am distressed how
to send it from England as they are grown particularly severe
at the custom house, & the summer coming on will not let me wait
for an opportunity. But as I imagine you don't like the Generale

to buy the muslin I will write to Lady Belmore (who takes
it as a favour to be employed for you) to ask her to get you
one. it will be the easiest method & you will have it the sooner
the taffeta Lady Belmore bought you the last year was extremely
cheap. I suppose it was a very slight one but as it is only for
the season I think it is better for to have such another than
buy a dear thing that has no other merit but being a little
stiffer. Let me know if you approve of this {?partage} then
I shall write immediately reckoning upon my Little Girls
consent. Lutestrings are useful for lining of slight patterns. Therefore
you must keep what you have as next winter you may
want linings. How happy I shall be to see my little tall girl.
Pray let me know if you are much grown that
I may accustom my ideas to see you. It will certainly not
be later than September that I shall have the joy of opening my
dear Charlotte's {?bags}. As for a maid I think that it would be
to your advantage to continue having a French one. Molly remaining
with me, it is the same thing to her. Therefore if you like the girl
that was sent upon you that is to say if she is what you think
will suit you hereafter you may if she will engage herself keep

her to yourself when the two other girls go away. But if
they choose to take her or that you don't agree it will suit
you so well as another might do then let her go & I will
desire the Mere Generale to engage one for you to remain with
you sola and if you like it you may have their room when they
go away as it will not be very long. You know what sort of
a person would be useful. She should be very hardy, dress hair
caps &c and have good principles. Let me know how you like
this arrangement. It will yet be necessary for you to continue
speaking French & I think this would be the best method. Of retaining
the custom of it in a familiar way. I hope I have again guessed
my little girls wishes. I reckon you are all in devotion
to day. I shall think of you
tomorrow as I remember last year you
told me of being in the church a great many
hours. I am glad Madame de la Force invited you to
her breakfast. Pray give my compliments to her. They may say in the
convent what they please but Mr de Chabrillants affair is a fact,
and a very paltry one too. I did not know that I had seen
Mr Hawkins in London but Sir William tells me that he was one
night at the Play when I was there. I have formerly met him at
the chapel & spoken to him. He is I think rather a little man
reckoned cleaver enough. Talks a good deal. He was at Doway
with your Papa & in the same school. I saw Miss Hawkins’ picture
in London at a Mrs French's in the City. They have some settlement at
St Christophers in America and my brother protected them when he was

governor of the Island so that they had quite an adoration
almost for Him & insisted upon giving him and all of us a dinner.
Mrs French told me that she heard great praises of you by the
Hawkins family transmitted I imagine by their daughter & I like
her for it. She has her hair down in the picture but it is very {?ill}
done. ask her about the French’s. If she is not acquainted with them
they seemed to be mighty good sort of people. I have told you
certainly of the death of poor Mr Bacon. It happened about a month
ago. Mrs Bacon has Earlham & everything for her life.

Miss Band only a legacy of 100^ll at present so that she continues
dependent upon Mrs Bacon which is I think not right as she was
Mr Bacons relation and had attended upon him as a daughter. Mrs Gordon
at Norwich lay in last week of another son. This makes the 11th child.
I believe she never will leave off. The eldest son is somewhere in France for his
improvement. The girls unmarried at Norwich. Adieu my pretty dear Charlotte

[change of orientation]
France p^as p^d to London
Madmoiselle
A Mademoiselle Jerningham aux Dames
Ursulines Rue St Jacques
a Paris