Dearest Life
The great difficulty I find in getting a
moment to my self has made me an early Riser, it is just
six a Clock & all the Family in profound quiet, therefore
have an opportunity to thank my Judy for hers, & to asure her
that my ardent Fondness can never sicken into neglect I
have lately learn’t a song that speaks my sentiments & xxxx {^^{In some measure}}
describes my sincerity.
Believe my Sighs, my Tears, my Dear,
Believe the Heart you’ve won,
Believe my vows to be sincere
Or Judy I’me Undone
You think I’m fickle apt to change
and Love a Face that’s new
But of all the Girls I ‘ere did see
I ne’er Lov’d {^^one} But you.
2
My Heart was Once a Lump of Ju,
Till warm’d by y^r bright Eyes,
But oh! They Kindle’s in a Trice
a Flame that never Dyes
Then take me try me & you’ll find,
Tho’ you think I more pursue,
That of all the Girls I ‘ere did see
I ne’er Lov’d one but you.

[f.116v]

Our Conversation here is a little enliven’d by the coming
of M^rs Rudge, she’s a very pretty woman & so well behav’d
that {^^even} Stanhope is taking pains to make the place agreable
to her, I cannot help having an ill opinion of her or any other
woman that marrys either an old man or a {^^Rich} Fool, the last is
her Case, x it xxx {^^{must be a}} great difficulty, & a long conversation w^ch
her {?made} me forget her mercenary disposition, I can’t help
thinking, but a woman y^t has sold her self for Title or wealth
might have been Brib’d to murder, Rapine, or any {^^other} Villany.
I am glad to hear Spencer is out of Danger, & that Molly
is so much mended, I pray God to preserve my Martin from
all the Ills of this Life & to give him his mothers virtues – M^rs
Allen desires her Compliments to you, Lady Stanhope is much
your servant, I wish you wou’d say something to her in one
of my Letters. Let me know when you leave Hetingfordbury
for certain, that I may know where to direct to you, I should
be glad to know whether you go with Nanny Mordaunt
let me hear from you every Post, I am my Dearest Judys
for ever
M Madan

Bretby Aug^st 26^th 1730.

Dearest Life
The great difficulty I find in getting a
moment to my self has made me an early Riser, it is just
six a Clock & all the Family in profound quiet, therefore
have an opportunity to thank my Judy for hers, & to assure her
that my ardent Fondness can never sicken into neglect I
have lately learnt a song that speaks my sentiments & xxxx {^^{In some measure}}
describes my sincerity.
Believe my Sighs, my Tears, my Dear,
Believe the Heart you’ve won,
Believe my vows to be sincere
Or Judy I’m Undone
You think I’m fickle apt to change
and Love a Face that’s new
But of all the Girls I ‘ere did see
I ne’er Loved {^^one} But you.
2
My Heart was Once a Lump of Ju,
Till warmed by y^r bright Eyes,
But oh! They Kindle’s in a Trice
a Flame that never Dyes
Then take me try me & you’ll find,
Though’ you think I more pursue,
That of all the Girls I ‘ere did see
I ne’er Loved one but you.

[f.116v]

Our Conversation here is a little enlivened by the coming
of M^rs Rudge, she’s a very pretty woman & so well behaved
that {^^even} Stanhope is taking pains to make the place agreeable
to her, I cannot help having an ill opinion of her or any other
woman that marries either an old man or a {^^Rich} Fool, the last is
her Case, x it xxx {^^{must be a}} great difficulty, & a long conversation w^ch
her {?made} me forget her mercenary disposition, I can’t help
thinking, but a woman y^t has sold her self for Title or wealth
might have been Bribed to murder, Rapine, or any {^^other} Villainy.
I am glad to hear Spencer is out of Danger, & that Molly
is so much mended, I pray God to preserve my Martin from
all the Ills of this Life & to give him his mothers virtues – M^rs
Allen desires her Compliments to you, Lady Stanhope is much
your servant, I wish you would say something to her in one
of my Letters. Let me know when you leave Hetingfordbury
for certain, that I may know where to direct to you, I should
be glad to know whether you go with Nanny Mordaunt
let me hear from you every Post, I am my Dearest Judys
for ever
M Madan

Bretby Aug^st 26^th 1730.