BC_1742_EMONTAGU_ED_1

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<Q A 1742 FN ED EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO EDWARD MONTAGU. MO 2139. AUGUST 27, 1742. ALLERTHORPE, YORKSHIRE}]
<P1>
Allerthorpe Aug y=e= 27=th=
1742
Dear Sir
   I am almost afraid you have flatter'd yourself with the hopes of not being troubled with a letter this Post because it is but three days since you left me; time indeed goes an equal pace & the clock a regular Machine measures it as equally, but it is differently measured by our minds as we are in different situations, some days the hours run laughing by so swift & merrily we do not count their steps, at others, they tread a heavy march & we keep a long account of tedious delay: thus tho' in times, & perhaps your account, you have been away but three days, in mine you have been absent long enough if not to allow me to [\complain, yet/] sufficient to authorize me to redress it by taking this way of conversing with you; it is said Wives will always have the last word, for my part I had rather have the first, for I shall think it the best end of speaking to induce you to answer, it is cheifly in this hope I have taken up my pen & ink. I had yesterday in the afternoon the favour of a visit from Lady Graham, S=ir= Reginald did not come with her knowing you was at Newcastle; I like her Ladyship extreamly, she is very conversable & wellbred, & I believe a very good Woman she seems to me more lovely than a quart bottle; her beauty & good
<P2>
Qualities might have promised a better Fate; I felt for her what the happy (as I am) are least apt to feel, compassion: the felicity of a different fortune has taught me to pitty her as much as the unhappiness of a like one could have done; I could not help thinking if Fate had reversed our fortunes and sent me to Norton & her to Allerthorp how I had suffer'd by the change; Happiness which is the proposed end of all our pursuits is seldom the reward of them; the Ambitious seek for it in power, the Avaricious in Riches, the Profuse in expence, the Vain in Pomp, the Industrious in Labour, & the Idle in Ease; but power has many disquietudes, Avarice no satisfaction, extravagance draws after it much inconvenience, & Labour & Idleness both end in weariness of Spirit; I think if there be really a State of felicity on Earth it must be in the Married [\state? INTO Life\] the Persons & Interests of other friends may [\be/] divided, but here mutual [\Interest be INTO Confidence\] built on mutual Interest must create agreement of opinion & of wishes, a competent fortune & a reasonable mind, [\& INTO merit?\] & well deserving towards all the World & no particular dependance upon any in it, must surely make two people happy, but for a few that go the strait Road to Happiness how many deviate to the by Roads of Humour, [\but INTO &\] how very fortunate are those few who in the Person they love meet with the Principles of honour & virtue to guide them thro' the World, but this my lot so happy & so rare shall not breed in me that insolence of opinion that I deserve it, [\by INTO but\] I will still look up to Heaven & you with gratitude & continual acknowledgments. Lord Castlecomar was on the Road to visit you yesterday, but being inform'd you was at Newcastle he turn'd back, & sent a message that he would wait on you at your Return. Young M=rs= Carter
<P3>
And her pretty little Daughter were [\WORD INTO so\] kind as to dine with me[\e FAINT\] the day you went away, my cold was very bad & my head ach'd a good deal that I was as bad company as ever passive humility & patience endured, but they were so good as to suffer me till about six o'clock & when they left me I put my Cargo of youth on board the Landau & went out a airing, but my diversion that way is at present suspended by a (\petit Demélé\) the wellfed pertness of Harry pleased to have with my Authority, when Lady Graham was here he was order'd to bring in the Tea table which since I hear he did not approve, had he civilly acquainted me with his scruples as he was your servant I had certainly given way to them, but not suspecting his reluctance to such a triffle I told him to wait as he was going out of the Room after he had set down the table however he ran away, & I imagining he did not hear me sent after him & he obliging sent me word he would not wait then nor any other time; I thought it was not very proper we should argue this point or such other difficulties as to his punctilious conscience might arise every moment, so indeed I sent him word that those who wou'd do any thing for me must do every thing, & as he w=d= not obey all my orders he should have none, & that he must keep intirely out of my sight till your Return that he had ask'd your pardon for transgressing your orders which were to wait upon me till Ned came back
<P4>
And as he continues to be saucy & declares he cares not as there are places enough to be had &c I do not much care to trust him to drive me, till you are here to keep him in order; nevertheless if you would have me make use of him I will surely do it, for it is much more my business to obey you than to command him; I assure you what I did was to satisfy my dignity & not my Anger, for it is not in the power of these sort of people to provoke me when I see those so much better inform'd by Education committing crimes against the whole World, & these poor Creatures only omitt a triffling obligation from which negligence one receives no hurt; however one must not suffer oneself to be disobey'd if one would ever have any order or quiet in a family; I have troubled you with more upon this head than I w=d= have [\done/] because it is of real concern to me that you should be convinced I am not ready to find fault with any one who in the least degree may have been serviceable to you, but M=r= Carter will tell you it was Harrys intention to behave thus. I rejoyce you had so good weather for y=r= journey I hope your business will give you as little trouble as is possible, your fellow traveller is certainly the best assistant in the World, he is that righte[{ous IN MARGIN{] Man of whom David says look whatsoever he doeth it shall prosper! Our boxes came safe, the book you enquired after is come with them, & I have sent you the papers which you said you wanted, they were unsealed & at the outside of the book so I imagined I might look into them, & I have copy'd them that if they should be lost by my sending them to Newcastle I may not have put you to any inconvenience by doing this without y=r= orders. I think one of the letters which came by this Post is directed by y=r= Sister, if there [\is/] inclosed an answer to the letter I wrote her, pray read it & send it to me next post. My Sister desires her best respects to you, the Children their most thankfull regards. My complim=ts= attend my friend M=r= Carter I am Dear Sir with the most gratefull affection your Obedient & Faithfull E Montagu