BC_1748_EMONTAGU_AD_1

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<Q A 1748? TC AD EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
[}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ANNE DONNELLAN. BATH. 1747/48? FEBRUARY? 4. MO 854. BATH}]
<P1>
y=e= 4=th= [\TEAR\] Dear Madam
   It is long since I have given my self the pleasure of Writing to you, we Invalids think more of how we do than of what we do; I am now endeavouring to gain a stock of health, & like those we call provident neglect present pleasure for the hopes of future. I think I may now say I am really better than when I came, & that I seem in a way to recover health, but do not as yet enjoy it in any perfect degree. I am still undetermined as to the time of staying here, for tho my Inclination points strongly towards London I must wave all consideration for that necessary ingredient to all happiness call'd health, & must be content with gaining that one point as it is so Essential an one. I suppose I shall Come to Town just when Old fashion people used to leave it to gather Cowslips in the Country. I am not surprized at what you say of a certain Persons gayety & spirits Constitution does for them more than Religion
<P2>
[\TEAR\] [{&?{] philosophy can do for others; this happy insensibility [\TEAR\] to be envy'd, this Person has made a Paradise of the World & has thro' life gathered the Sweet without feeling the thorn. how blest a Condition to enter into the joys of all relations without feeling a pang at their dissolution! M=r= Montagu was in great pain to know how they would bear the shock, I answerd the better for not feeling it. but this between ourselves only. When I wrote last to you I was in wretched spirits, I am now better in that respect as well as others. I have moved my lodging to Orange Court & have got a very pleasant habitation a prospect of the Hills, a village, & the River which last murmurs very agreably and makes me forget I am not in the Country which I could always wish for part of the day. We have still a good deal of Company Lady Bateman Lady Albemarle Lady Huntingdon Lady Lucy & Lady Jane Stanhope, M=rs= Pitt your Spa Acquaintance Lady Portland Lady B: Egerton Lady Sophia Grey. as to the Dutchess of Kent she does not come out so can hardly be reckond one of the Company
<P3>
As to fine Men they are scarce, the Duke of Bolton is here with M=rs= Beswick & all his Illegitimate Issue. The Coffee House is really grown sprightly. We meet M=rs= Pit M=rs= G: Trevor Lady Lucy Stanhope & a few more & we are often very merry & sit round the fire after other people go away. M=rs= Pitt is really very sensible & agreable. I believe I told you M=rs= Freind had innoculated her Son, he is now quite Well [\SEAL\] but [\TEAR\] [{this?{] formidable distemper has kept us from [{the?{] [\SEAL\] agreable Society. M=r= Freind I hear went to Town this week, I dare say in great spirits to think of the happy way he left his Son in, just recovering from a distemper the very fear of which enslaves people all their lives. M=rs= Knight is here & designs to stay till April & then returns again to Bristol. I am sorry to hear Miss Chudleigh is so ill again. I thought she lookd well when she went from Bath. M=r= Montagu & my Sister desire their complim=ts= Miss [\Grinfeild OR Grisfeild\] desires her humble Service with great respect. My Complim=ts= attend M=r= & M=rs= Percival & y=e= good little Pere
   I am Dear Mad=m= / Yours most sincerely / E Montagu
[\ADDRESS\] To / Mrs Donnellan / At the Hon=ble= P. Percivals / In Hanover Square / London / Free / Edw: / Montagu.
[\SEAL\]