Cossey Dec 29
1791

Madam
After suffering so many months to pass
without once writing to your Ladyship, it is at least
fit I should send you some compliment on the entrance
of the new year. I was sorry to understand from Sir
William’s last letter that you were not quite well,
but hope your health has since been entirely re-establish
ed, notwithstanding a letter from Mr Edward J. to order
his annual provision of turkeys has made us fear
it may be otherwise. I must write in this style, tho’
if I were present it would be my duty and sincerest
wish effectually to recommend a total conformity
with the will of God for health or for sickness or for
whatever his wisdom appoints or permits, be it
agreeable or the contrary.
The expiring year has removed from
the county no small number of persons in some
way or other known to your Ladyship
I mention
Mrs More, the Dyer’s Wife
Old My Poppey
Mrs Suffield
Mrs Gobbett
Lord Orford – Dec. 5

Mr Moore has supplied his loss by taking for
his second wife Mr Angier’s sister. Mrs Gobbett died

the summer before. Lord Orford, who breathed his last
at Houghton, was attended to the family place of
interment in the church there, by the principal
gentlemen of the County, eight baronets bearing
the pall. He is said to have made two wills, both
of them many years ago. By the first he put the
Wolterton family after the Cholmondley, by the
second he gave them the preference, and has since
by a codicil referr’d to the first will without men-
tioning the second. Hence they say when the present
Earl dies, the law must determine which of the
wills is valid. I am concerned for the Wolterton
family, as it would perhaps have been less vexatious
to bear the disappointment of an inheritance once
for all, than to be harassed with long proceedings
at law to commence at some future period. How-
ever My Townshend tells me they are already by
Lord Orford’s disposition in possession of the Dor-
setshire estate of 2000£ per ann. The Parliament
not meeting till the end of Jan. Mr Townshend
has continued in the country, he hopes it will
be still more agreeable next year by the presence
of his Cossey neighbours, Thomas Suffield, has with-
drawn himself from business upon the accession of
fortune which came to him by the death of his
mother and has retired to Catton. Robert Is settled
at St Giles’s, and Chapman having left him, has

taken young Pitchford for his clerk, very much as
I am told to the disadvantage of the Catter, who had
scarce accepted when a most favourable offer was
made him of a place in Mr Wright’s banking house.
Mrs Claxton has been for some time purposing to
write to your Ladyship, but that our letters may
not concur in point of time will defer her intention
a little longer. I shall receive with great pleasure
the honour of a letter from your Ladyship or any of
the family, to all of whom Sir Will. Miss Jerningham
and her three brothers I desire my respectful com-
pliments. It is my duty to hope you may enjoy as much
present happiness as may promote the felicity of eternal
years for that alone is true and real. Amongst {?imm
me}[assurable] pious sayings of the good B. of Amiens
this was one, let us Labour here, for l’eternite est
assez longue pour se reposer. This puts me upon
lamenting the distressed state of the Church in
France. I knew not how much the conscientious
Ecclesiastes were persecuted, till I lately saw
a pastoral letter from the B. of Lcon, who has
taken refuge in London and is by all accounts a
most venerable man. I have the honour to be
Madam
Your most obliged
and most obed^t humble Servant
Geo. Chamberlayne
Chaplain at Cossey

Cossey
Dec^r 29. 1791

Cossey Dec 29
1791

Madam
After suffering so many months to pass
without once writing to your Ladyship, it is at least
fit I should send you some compliment on the entrance
of the new year. I was sorry to understand from Sir
William’s last letter that you were not quite well,
but hope your health has since been entirely re-establish
ed, notwithstanding a letter from Mr Edward J. to order
his annual provision of turkeys has made us fear
it may be otherwise. I must write in this style, though’
if I were present it would be my duty and sincerest
wish effectually to recommend a total conformity
with the will of God for health or for sickness or for
whatever his wisdom appoints or permits, be it
agreeable or the contrary.
The expiring year has removed from
the county no small number of persons in some
way or other known to your Ladyship
I mention
Mrs More, the Dyer’s Wife
Old My Poppey
Mrs Suffield
Mrs Gobbett
Lord Orford – Dec. 5

Mr Moore has supplied his loss by taking for
his second wife Mr Angier’s sister. Mrs Gobbett died

the summer before. Lord Orford, who breathed his last
at Houghton, was attended to the family place of
interment in the church there, by the principal
gentlemen of the County, eight baronets bearing
the pall. He is said to have made two wills, both
of them many years ago. By the first he put the
Wolterton family after the Cholmondley, by the
second he gave them the preference, and has since
by a codicil referred to the first will without men-
tioning the second. Hence they say when the present
Earl dies, the law must determine which of the
wills is valid. I am concerned for the Wolterton
family, as it would perhaps have been less vexatious
to bear the disappointment of an inheritance once
for all, than to be harassed with long proceedings
at law to commence at some future period. How-
ever My Townshend tells me they are already by
Lord Orford’s disposition in possession of the Dor-
setshire estate of 2000£ per ann. The Parliament
not meeting till the end of Jan. Mr Townshend
has continued in the country, he hopes it will
be still more agreeable next year by the presence
of his Cossey neighbours, Thomas Suffield, has with-
drawn himself from business upon the accession of
fortune which came to him by the death of his
mother and has retired to Catton. Robert Is settled
at St Giles’s, and Chapman having left him, has

taken young Pitchford for his clerk, very much as
I am told to the disadvantage of the Catter, who had
scarce accepted when a most favourable offer was
made him of a place in Mr Wright’s banking house.
Mrs Claxton has been for some time purposing to
write to your Ladyship, but that our letters may
not concur in point of time will defer her intention
a little longer. I shall receive with great pleasure
the honour of a letter from your Ladyship or any of
the family, to all of whom Sir Will. Miss Jerningham
and her three brothers I desire my respectful com-
pliments. It is my duty to hope you may enjoy as much
present happiness as may promote the felicity of eternal
years for that alone is true and real. Amongst {?imm
me}[assurable] pious sayings of the good B. of Amiens
this was one, let us Labour here, for l’eternite est
assez longue pour se reposer. This puts me upon
lamenting the distressed state of the Church in
France. I knew not how much the conscientious
Ecclesiastes were persecuted, till I lately saw
a pastoral letter from the B. of Lcon, who has
taken refuge in London and is by all accounts a
most venerable man. I have the honour to be
Madam
Your most obliged
and most obed^t humble Servant
Geo. Chamberlayne
Chaplain at Cossey

Cossey
Dec^r 29. 1791