Cossey, May 1st 1786

Your Papa set out yesterday for London, Staffordshire Gloucestershire
etc & I am extremely alone at Cossey. How much I miss my dear little
girl who used to be such company to me, I need not say
indeed I might have gone to London for three weeks or a month
during Sr Wm’s absence if I had pleased to do so and on Saturday
I had almost determined to go: but upon maturer reflection I
felt that it would be a considerable additional expense which
we can but ill afford, and therefore as it was for a personal enjoyment
I did not think it would answer the end proposed as I should
have felt that the money I was spending could be better employed
if my dearest Charlotte was with me. I should be quite happy. A
tete a tete with the {?Saint} is not quite so cheerful but I must
do as well as I can. I received your pretty letter last
post & when Mlle {?Dulude} goes her ways in June you may take
her place in the {?room}. As for Molly I told her what you said
about her and she is quite satisfied with it. You may be sure
that it is not because I wish to keep her for myself
for if I did not think the arrangement I proposed best for you
I should have given up Molly immediately but you have
this opportunity of having a French maid of good principles about

you (for I have such an opinion of Mere Generale's sagacity
that I cannot have any doubts of the propriety of keeping a maid
she has chosen for you) that I think it will be greatly to your
advantage to have a French person whom you must speak
to several times in a day especially as I perceive you are
not yet quite perfect in French diction. For example you say
'le plaisir de lui' instead of 'de le voir'. il m'a dit que
[illeg] aller a [illeg] instead of alloit. It is there in the
imperfect tense and you put it in the infinitive. I hope you
do not forget the French Rules as there there is no other way of retaining
the purity of a language but by knowing the grammatical
Rules of it . Was not Mllle de Grandval the girl that you at first
disliked? And pray what is become of [illeg]? & your other first
friend Petra Mlle de {?Dellters} mother was the {?Lady} that George
liked the best at Juilly. I did not know that he had left them.
As for George he is going to be at Paris with Mr Moore
your old acquaintance for his Preceptor. But keep this entirely
to yourself. William I wish to put immediately for about 2 years
to Doway, as it is exactly the place suitable to him. He will there
learn to have a reverence for his religion he will get back his

English which whatever country he inhabits is absolutely necessary
& if not regained at present he will always speak his native
tongue like a foreigner, which is a most ridiculous circumstance
than people who reside abroad are apt to think of. At the
same time he now knows French too well ever to lose it especially
as I shall order him to Read with the French master & have
French books at 16. He might according to what his instruction
will be either go to an academy in Germany to learn German
or to Turin where he will learn Italian. Thus I mean him
to know French, English & either German or Italian as perfect
as if he was a native of either country.
Does my little girl approve of this plan?
The Ecole Militaire I once thought of but
I for several reasons prefer the plan I now
have mentioned. My dearest little Neddy
who is really a most extraordinary little boy and who at the excellent
school he now is at (for I know none like it) has learnt Gentility
and Politeness and gives promise of every accomplishment. I shall put
to some French place to learn the language perfectly. He has made
out for afterwards his whole plan of education for himself indeed
he is most like you and therefore you must love him. He is
reasonable and clever, as you are. You will be surprised to hear him
play on the harpsichord and it is almost all of his own teaching. I have
lent him my little old piano forte to play upon at school. He draws also very

well, & his figure is beautiful, most handsomer than he was.
Mr Hillary is a most excellent man. Every body takes notice of
Ned and says that he is uncommonly well brought up, so reasonable
in his understanding, and yet amiably childish in his appearance.
He is very fond of reading, very curious about antiquities of
all sorts, & knows the different sorts of buidings that belong

to each period. When I returned from Paris I found an amazing
improvement in him & every time he returns home I can perceive
he has considerably gained every way. I do love him dearly,
but he quite justifies my fondness. a propos I hope you will have
got to the Senate's leave to show me the rules of your Republick.
I long to see them. I am sure my little girl drew them up none of
the others could do so well. Adieu my dearest dear Charlotte. Write to
me as often as you can. Pray is the little D'alban Mother living? I was with Mere
{?Ram.Illant} and extremely fond of her. Her name was Mlle de Castillane very pretty. when I was in
Paris last I heard she was in a Consumption.

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

Cossey, May 1st 1786

Your Papa set out yesterday for London, Staffordshire Gloucestershire
etc & I am extremely alone at Cossey. How much I miss my dear little
girl who used to be such company to me, I need not say
indeed I might have gone to London for three weeks or a month
during Sr Wm’s absence if I had pleased to do so and on Saturday
I had almost determined to go: but upon maturer reflection I
felt that it would be a considerable additional expense which
we can but ill afford, and therefore as it was for a personal enjoyment
I did not think it would answer the end proposed as I should
have felt that the money I was spending could be better employed
if my dearest Charlotte was with me. I should be quite happy. A
tete a tete with the {?Saint} is not quite so cheerful but I must
do as well as I can. I received your pretty letter last
post & when Mlle {?Dulude} goes her ways in June you may take
her place in the {?room}. As for Molly I told her what you said
about her and she is quite satisfied with it. You may be sure
that it is not because I wish to keep her for myself
for if I did not think the arrangement I proposed best for you
I should have given up Molly immediately but you have
this opportunity of having a French maid of good principles about

you (for I have such an opinion of Mere Generale's sagacity
that I cannot have any doubts of the propriety of keeping a maid
she has chosen for you) that I think it will be greatly to your
advantage to have a French person whom you must speak
to several times in a day especially as I perceive you are
not yet quite perfect in French diction. For example you say
'le plaisir de lui' instead of 'de le voir'. il m'a dit que
[illeg] aller a [illeg] instead of alloit. It is there in the
imperfect tense and you put it in the infinitive. I hope you
do not forget the French Rules as there there is no other way of retaining
the purity of a language but by knowing the grammatical
Rules of it . Was not Mllle de Grandval the girl that you at first
disliked? And pray what is become of [illeg]? & your other first
friend Petra Mlle de {?Dellters} mother was the {?Lady} that George
liked the best at Juilly. I did not know that he had left them.
As for George he is going to be at Paris with Mr Moore
your old acquaintance for his Preceptor. But keep this entirely
to yourself. William I wish to put immediately for about 2 years
to Doway, as it is exactly the place suitable to him. He will there
learn to have a reverence for his religion he will get back his

English which whatever country he inhabits is absolutely necessary
& if not regained at present he will always speak his native
tongue like a foreigner, which is a most ridiculous circumstance
than people who reside abroad are apt to think of. At the
same time he now knows French too well ever to lose it especially
as I shall order him to Read with the French master & have
French books at 16. He might according to what his instruction
will be either go to an academy in Germany to learn German
or to Turin where he will learn Italian. Thus I mean him
to know French, English & either German or Italian as perfect
as if he was a native of either country.
Does my little girl approve of this plan?
The Ecole Militaire I once thought of but
I for several reasons prefer the plan I now
have mentioned. My dearest little Neddy
who is really a most extraordinary little boy and who at the excellent
school he now is at (for I know none like it) has learnt Gentility
and Politeness and gives promise of every accomplishment. I shall put
to some French place to learn the language perfectly. He has made
out for afterwards his whole plan of education for himself indeed
he is most like you and therefore you must love him. He is
reasonable and clever, as you are. You will be surprised to hear him
play on the harpsichord and it is almost all of his own teaching. I have
lent him my little old piano forte to play upon at school. He draws also very

well, & his figure is beautiful, most handsomer than he was.
Mr Hillary is a most excellent man. Every body takes notice of
Ned and says that he is uncommonly well brought up, so reasonable
in his understanding, and yet amiably childish in his appearance.
He is very fond of reading, very curious about antiquities of
all sorts, & knows the different sorts of buidings that belong

to each period. When I returned from Paris I found an amazing
improvement in him & every time he returns home I can perceive
he has considerably gained every way. I do love him dearly,
but he quite justifies my fondness. a propos I hope you will have
got to the Senate's leave to show me the rules of your Republick.
I long to see them. I am sure my little girl drew them up none of
the others could do so well. Adieu my dearest dear Charlotte. Write to
me as often as you can. Pray is the little D'alban Mother living? I was with Mere
{?Ram.Illant} and extremely fond of her. Her name was Mlle de Castillane very pretty. when I was in
Paris last I heard she was in a Consumption.

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