In Mame’s room at Cossey 3 O Clock
January the 12th 1785

How sorry I am to hear that my dear little Girl
has been ill and that it should just happen at the
time of the Innocents Recreation when I was in hopes that
you would have Diverted yourself so well. i[t] shews that
one must never Reckon too much when any future amusement
but like you be Reasonable enough to Relish the Present
& trust in Providence for to order the Morrow. This is a Little
xxxx morality {^^Reflection}. I could not Restrain as my own Case made me
think of it. For I had been pleasing my self with the thought
that you were so well amused at the Blew Nuns the 27^th 28^th & 29^th
and instead of that my Poor Little Girl was Laying in Bed
at the Ursulines ill of a fever. I hope that it is now entirely
Removed. Pray tell me what brought it on. If it was owing
to Cold or if you have not yet had xxxxx
let me know particularly about that. poor Lady Anastatia
will have been very miserable for she long’d vastly to see you.
I am glad the Mere Generale is so good. I shall write a few words
to her to thank her. Indeed she appear’d to me to be a most sensible

[f.20/2]

worthy woman, & I applaud my self every day more & more for
having entrusted you to her Care rather than to have put you
in any other Convent. If there is any thing in Cloaths or
other ways that you want, you must ask her to get it {^^for} you as
I will not have my dear little Charlotte deprived of any thing
that can be comfortable. I hope you Received a Letter I
wrote from London. We staid there a Little above a forthnight
that is to say we did not come down here til the 8th but
five of the Days were spent out of London. As my Brother
persuaded me to go down with him to Ditchley accordingly
we set off on a Monday got there at night. Staid Tuesday
Wednesday & Thursday & Return’d on the Friday to London.
Ned who Came to London a few days before & lodg’d at his
Grandmama’s went with us at Ditchley he dined & was
all day with the Children, who are Charming. The Little Boy
is fair, very tall & thin, but very pretty. The girl has black
eyes, & promises to be beautiful. They are both very engaging
not at all shy. The Little boy Harry was all day kissing Ned
& he said to me several times How I do Love this dear Boy!

[f.20/3]

he was 7 years old in October Little Fanny will be five next
month. Ditchley is a very fine place. The house is grand & at
the same time Comfortable. My Brother Harry met us there for
Oxford is not above 40 miles from Worcester. He is very well
& enquired as you may well imagine much after you. About
the end of this month. I expect he will be here. Mr Le Texier
whom you have heard of (the man who reads so well) came down
to Ditchley. & so we had a play read every night by
him. & it is really delightful, I prefer his manner of delivering
a play, by much, to the seeing it acted. He is besides a very
inform’d agreable man. S^r W^m
Stay’d but one day at Ditchley &
then went on into Staffordshire.
H return’d to London by himself on the Sunday &
the Wednesday after we set out for Cossey day at Newmarket
heard Mass at Bury when I saw the Duchess of Liancourts
Sons, who have been there a year to learn English & we
got to old Cossey about nine {^^{we found}} every body very well
but the poor Girl in the Kitchen who has been ill this long
time. & since our return M^r Chamberlayne has not been
quite well. Poor Richard Barker Dyed
abroad of a fever in his Brain & Porter
fill his place. Jackey & the Dairy Maid &

[f.20/4]

Nurse Carr is also deceas’d. I suppose you had an accon
from the Chevalier of your aunt Plowden’s Death. I did
not think she Could live long when I saw her last
they propose never letting your Grandmama know any thing
about it indeed it is unnecessary. I think it must shock
her. Pray have you seen your Uncles often. I beg you
will let me know. I suppose the others will be Coming from
Montpellier soon. I have not seen any thing of the {?Gradehouse}
I sent your letter to Kimberley by Michael & the answer was
Compliments & they would take the first opportunity of
waiting upon us. The Townshend’s Mrs Cornwallis
Mrs Magot Captain Gray Sr Wm Bowyer &c. have been here
the Priests are now below. Where I shall leave them
till dinner time. Arthur Beevor is come over from America
to visit his Parents. He is now with us. The scar upon his
Lip & the Loss of all his fore teeth alters him a good
[damaged] He is very good sort of Creature &
[damaged] all very well adieu my Poor Little dear Girl
[damaged] in love to you & wants you sadly but nobody
[damaged] your most affectionate & fond mother.
Papa sends you a (kiss?)

In Mame’s room at Cossey 3 O Clock
January the 12th 1785

How sorry I am to hear that my dear little Girl
has been ill and that it should just happen at the
time of the Innocents Recreation when I was in hopes that
you would have Diverted yourself so well. i[t] shews that
one must never Reckon too much when any future amusement
but like you be Reasonable enough to Relish the Present
& trust in Providence for to order the Morrow. This is a Little
xxxx morality {^^Reflection}. I could not Restrain as my own Case made me
think of it. For I had been pleasing my self with the thought
that you were so well amused at the Blew Nuns the 27^th 28^th & 29^th
and instead of that my Poor Little Girl was Laying in Bed
at the Ursulines ill of a fever. I hope that it is now entirely
Removed. Pray tell me what brought it on. If it was owing
to Cold or if you have not yet had xxxxx
let me know particularly about that. poor Lady Anastatia
will have been very miserable for she longed vastly to see you.
I am glad the Mere Generale is so good. I shall write a few words
to her to thank her. Indeed she appeared to me to be a most sensible

[f.20/2]

worthy woman, & I applaud my self every day more & more for
having entrusted you to her Care rather than to have put you
in any other Convent. If there is any thing in Clothes or
other ways that you want, you must ask her to get it {^^for} you as
I will not have my dear little Charlotte deprived of any thing
that can be comfortable. I hope you Received a Letter I
wrote from London. We staid there a Little above a forthnight
that is to say we did not come down here til the 8th but
five of the Days were spent out of London. As my Brother
persuaded me to go down with him to Ditchley accordingly
we set off on a Monday got there at night. Staid Tuesday
Wednesday & Thursday & Returned on the Friday to London.
Ned who Came to London a few days before & lodged at his
Grandmama’s went with us at Ditchley he dined & was
all day with the Children, who are Charming. The Little Boy
is fair, very tall & thin, but very pretty. The girl has black
eyes, & promises to be beautiful. They are both very engaging
not at all shy. The Little boy Harry was all day kissing Ned
& he said to me several times How I do Love this dear Boy!

[f.20/3]

he was 7 years old in October Little Fanny will be five next
month. Ditchley is a very fine place. The house is grand & at
the same time Comfortable. My Brother Harry met us there for
Oxford is not above 40 miles from Worcester. He is very well
& enquired as you may well imagine much after you. About
the end of this month. I expect he will be here. Mr Le Texier
whom you have heard of (the man who reads so well) came down
to Ditchley. & so we had a play read every night by
him. & it is really delightful, I prefer his manner of delivering
a play, by much, to the seeing it acted. He is besides a very
informed agreeable man. S^r W^m
Stayed but one day at Ditchley &
then went on into Staffordshire.
H returned to London by himself on the Sunday &
the Wednesday after we set out for Cossey day at Newmarket
heard Mass at Bury when I saw the Duchess of Liancourts
Sons, who have been there a year to learn English & we
got to old Cossey about nine {^^{we found}} every body very well
but the poor Girl in the Kitchen who has been ill this long
time. & since our return M^r Chamberlayne has not been
quite well. Poor Richard Barker Dyed
abroad of a fever in his Brain & Porter
fill his place. Jackey & the Dairy Maid &

[f.20/4]

Nurse Carr is also deceased. I suppose you had an account
from the Chevalier of your aunt Plowden’s Death. I did
not think she Could live long when I saw her last
they propose never letting your Grandmama know any thing
about it indeed it is unnecessary. I think it must shock
her. Pray have you seen your Uncles often. I beg you
will let me know. I suppose the others will be Coming from
Montpellier soon. I have not seen any thing of the {?Gradehouse}
I sent your letter to Kimberley by Michael & the answer was
Compliments & they would take the first opportunity of
waiting upon us. The Townshend’s Mrs Cornwallis
Mrs Magot Captain Gray Sr Wm Bowyer &c. have been here
the Priests are now below. Where I shall leave them
till dinner time. Arthur Beevor is come over from America
to visit his Parents. He is now with us. The scar upon his
Lip & the Loss of all his fore teeth alters him a good
[damaged] He is very good sort of Creature &
[damaged] all very well adieu my Poor Little dear Girl
[damaged] in love to you & wants you sadly but nobody
[damaged] your most affectionate & fond mother.
Papa sends you a (kiss?)