BC_1759_EMONTAGU_EC_4
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<Q A 1759? TC EC EMONTAGU> <X ELIZABETH MONTAGU> [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH CARTER. 1759? DEC?. MO 3033}] <P1> y=e= [\9=th=\] My Dear Miss Carter Neither philosopher nor pipkin could behave worse to you than I have done of late, but I assure you I am not made of their hard ware. My eyes no sooner got well than I was teized with ye rheumatism & could not bear the writing posture. As soon as I grew better M=r= Montagu fell ill of a violent cough & kept his room three weeks: [\CROSSED OVER BY MM? to day he is to dine below for the first time.\] The offices of Nurse & secretary, for I am both to him, have so fill'd all my time that except for purposes of business I have lived without benefit of clergy. Your letter last night gave me most sincere pleasure, I imagined you thought I was grown a brute, & unless you could make a good fable of my metamorphosis would have nothing to say to me. [\CROSSED OVER BY MM I intended writing to you as soon as I got a free morning which I date only from today that M=r= Montagu quits his apartment.\] Miss Talbot calld on me the other day when I was just gone to Lady Frances Williams who came to Town the night before. I had not seen her since the death of Lady Essex, so the meeting was painfull; but she bore up better than I expected: and I have the comfort of finding her less dejected than I fear'd. I do not imagine that after such a shock she will ever be capable of the lively joy, which the mind feels <P2> Before it has tasted such deadly sorrow: but I really hope she will recover a sort of tranquillity, in the great (\palace de la tristesse\) there are very different apartm=ts=: some are utterly dark & comfortless; others admit a twilight in which no [\object\] appears brilliant or gaily colour'd, but where the true shape and form of things appear. Sickness & age, & most of all sorrow, may soon change the gay picture to meer black & white, & one is surprized to find there is so little beauty in the meer outline of what appear'd so charming when colour'd: but if the things of this World do not assume a terrible form, or become obliterated by grief, I do not know whether the evil be so great to a Christian, the un_dazzled sight will look onward to an eternity where no shadows, no delusive joys await our coming, and we shall thank the voice that told us what we gazed on enamoured, was an insubstantial shadow. Here I was interrupted by a visit from my friend M=r= Burke. It is a noble privilege in a London life that one can never be too long in the [\same temper/] , whether willingly or unwillingly, one must steer "from grave to gay, from lively to severe." I am very glad you liked M=r= Burkes book, he is as good & worthy as he is ingenious. The press has not furnishd us with any thing of late worthy your attention, nor have the genius's of France sent their wit to the mint to be made into currency, as the rich have their plate. I was very happy when I last saw Miss Talbot to find her health so establish'd, I look upon her life as a publick concern, for she is ever <P3> Ready to relieve distress & protect merit, & gives a sweet example to the World of the amiableness of Virtue. [\CROSSED OVER BY MM Then as your friend I am most terribly interested for her welfare. Whenever you suffer I am in pain, I want to keep you in this World, & yet to have you happier than this World can make you, I want a little Island for you which should be suitable to you, you should read upon violets be fanned by zephers & shaded by woodbine & roses in a moral sense, your mind seems too pure to live in fogs, too gentle for North Wind, our moral atmosphere our material World is not worthy of you but if you must lead ye usual life come to Clargesstreet My heart rejoyces at ye thought, & echo's come to Clarges streets. You do not say a syllable of your health, as to mine it is now very good, I am weary of ye dissipation I have lived in, not an hour I could call my own between domestick duties & the ceremonies of life. I never told you that y=r= Brother was once so good as to dine with me, I like him vastly. I can tell you he has y=e= good fortune to resemble you. If you do not come to Town now you have flatterd me with hopes of it you have done an ill thing, you cannot imagine how many things that before this news pleased me very well have now lost their value, agreable people sell at no price, many even wise & good are fallen below par. My mind anticipates your arrival & I have been angry at every body that came in that they were not Miss Carter. If I was to prescribe a temperate regimen\] <P4> [\CROSSED OVER BY MM For my mind I should never come to the luxurious feast of your conversation. You have made me nice & dainty so look that you do not leave [\me/] to starve pray come to Clarges. I am to go Lady F: Williams to night, she enquired after you last time I saw her, you cannot imagine how the chorus of my friends will join to say to you Come to Clarges Street. M=rs= Pitt is in Town & longs for you. I shall hope to have y=r= commands to get y=r= apartment air'd. I can say nothing that appears to me to have any sense in it but pray come to Clarges street. (\Adieu\) ! My Dear friend believe me that no one can esteem & love you more than I do, esteem me for that esteem & love me for that love, for indeed I know nothing in me so well to be liked so much to be approved.\] I am My Dear friend Ever Y=rs= EM