BC_1750_EMONTAGU_LB_2

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<Q A 1750? T LB EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO LYDIA CATHERINA BRYDGES, THE DUCHESS OF CHANDOS. C. OCTOBER 1750. MS HYDE 7 (3)}]
<P1>
 [\IN PENCIL ca. 1750 Oct.\] Sandleford wednesday morn
   It is with great pleasure that I find myself many miles nearer my Dear Lady Dutchess than I was a few days ago, & I hoped before this time to have enjoy'd the benefit of being so little distant from Shaw, but the severity of the weather has every day disappointed my hopes of waiting on your Grace; So I will no longer [\defer/] sending to enquire after your health, & hope the weather will soon be so moderate as to permit me to be an Eye witness of it. I was so ill at first going to Tunbridge that I was obliged to stay long there to establish my health, a remarkably thin Season & the late time of the year made the Place hardly to be called a Public one; but health my object, & the weather favorable for the waters, I staid with great patience, & came away much better of my complaints tho they are not absolutely removed. We spent above three weeks in London which was as empty as ever I saw it, the Dowager Lady Stratford kept up the spirit of Assemblies thro the whole year, but except at her House I did not hear of any large meetings, I cannot call those Societys where cards are the imployment. The mercers have exhausted their invention for fine Stuffs for the Birthday & the Ladies will exhaust their purses to purchase them. There was little news stirring, the Duke of Ancasters marriage with Miss Panton is said to be settled. & M=r= Bathurst son to Lady Selena, is going to enter the holy state with Miss Evelyn. happy if the seriousness & gravity of the engagem can counterpoise the levity of his genius!
<P2>
I hope we are to remain here till after Xmass for the Parliament it is imagined will not meet before january, I am very glad of so long retirement & repose after my Summers Rambles; too much dissipation is not agreable; & one is, & ought to be glad, sometimes to commune with ones own heart in ones chamber & be still. your Grace knows how to employ your time in retirem=t= which is of all others the most usefull Science, & gives the best sort of independance; the independance of the mind: While others are forced to beg in Cities their daily amusement a Servitude equal perhaps to that of begging ones bread, but as the Slave of pleasure is better drest & accommodated than the Slave of poverty he meets with less pitty & contempt.
   I hope very soon to tell your Grace (\de vive voix\) how much & with what respect
   I am
   Madam
   Your Graces
   most Obliged
   And most faithfull
   Humble Servant
   E Montagu M=r= Montagu begs your Grace to accept of his compliments
[\FOLDED\] [\NO ADDRESS OR SEAL\]