BC_1759_EMONTAGU_SS_1

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<Q A 1759? FN SS EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO SARAH SCOTT. MO 5777. 1759? AUGUST? 29.
SANDLEFORD}]
<P1>
ye 29=th= My Dear Sister
   I should have answered your letter letter [\SIC\] last post, but I have been a good deal engaged with attendance on M=r= Montagu who was taken ill of a little fever on this day sennight, he appeard very well in the morning, & was very merry with my Brother William who was that day to go to Winchester, we carried him in the Coach as far as Kingsclare, & then M=r= Montagu, D=r= Monsey & Your H=ble= Serv=t= went to see M=r= Cottington house, as we came down y=e= Hill M=r= Montagu found himself not well, but w=d= not let ye Doctor do any thing for him for four days; but at ye end of them said he w=d= now resign himself to y=e= management of the learned, for he found he could not get well without assistance. We hope the fever is quite off to day, & yesterday it was very slight, but he has a troublesome cough, however we hope he will be well enough to take y=e= air tomorrow & a few days [\air/] & exercise I hope will quite recover his strength & appetite which at present are deficient. M=r= Montagu thanks you for y=r= letter which is very obliging & will write you his acknowledgments when he is able. He was blooded two [\days/] ago but his blood was so thick it was difficult to get any out, & at last y=e= Doctor could not get so much as he wish'd. It was
<P2>
Very fortunate that D=r= Monsey happend to be here for it is so difficult to prevail on M=r= Montagu to send for a physician that perhaps he w=d= have let ye fever take too strong hold before any help had been got. He has not been in y=e= least danger, but indeed has sufferd [\much/] from bad nights, loss of strength & appetite for he loaths nourishment of all kinds. The Doctor desires him to drink plentifully of small liquers, but we have sometimes a pretty stout argument before he will swallow a bason of any sort of liquid. I was much grieved to lay aside my scheme of coming to Bath Easton, but we had then such accounts of Lady Medows as made it uncertain whether I should not have been obliged to have left you perhaps the day after I came, for M=r= Montagu seem'd to intimate that I must go to Town with him directly if such an event was to happen, I fancy y=e= good Lady will have y=e= complaisance to save him a journey to Town on purpose, business will oblige us to go to London before ye end of September I fear, for M=r= Montagu is very desirous to finish his affairs as Executor to M=r= Rogers. He wants too to go to Newcastle to settle with M=r= Isaacson, but I do not think his constitution strong enough for such a journey late in y=e= year. I proposed if he went to Newcastle to take then a little trip to Bath to see you, for indeed it w=d= be barbarous to come into your house to eject these good people who are not only as loving, but while with you, as happy as y=e= first pair in Paradise, but in that case I could have taken a lodging & beggd them to change for a little while, but I could not honestly have used y=e= old proverb that exchanges
<P3>
Is no robbery. From the account you give of your Clergyman I am sorry he could not stay in the West Indies where they much want Pastors of zeal & piety. In converting Infidels I wish the preachers w=d= consider the dangers of being half a Christian, & that they sh=d= either take true pains with their flock or leave them to that mercy which can better pardon ignorance than wilfull sinfulness. D=r= Monsey desires his most respectfull, affectionate, tender, & passionate compliments to you. he design_d returning to London on monday, but he will now stay till M=r= Montagu can conveniently spare him. I live in hopes of seeing you here, if you come I will excuse myself from going to Town when M=r= Montagu goes up for I shall not be of ye least use in finishing his accounts now, as they are all now ready for the Lawyer & I shall be glad to be excused being in Town at a time of y=e= year that London is dull & y=e= Country still pleasant, so let not [\my INTO that\] shorten your stay here, but however come as soon as it is fit for you, that I may have ye more of your company, but I say all this with submission to your health for, I w=d= not have you run any hazards for any consideration. I think some way or other y=e= year w=d= not pass without my seeing you, but had much rather it were here, for indeed if M=r= Montagus health, which between ourselves is not quite what it was some years, & indeed months ago, [\sh=d= grow worse/] I shall not be at liberty to ramble about. He had a little fever before since we came hither & the bad state of his blood makes me apprehensive he may be liable to them, or to other complaints. It is said sometimes
<P4>
That people get bread when they have not teeth to cut it, I am afraid I have got wings when I must not fly, new journeys w=d= be pleasant [\&\] ye expense is of no consequence perhaps accidents will [\fix\] me down. I expect y=e= pleasure of seeing Miss Carter in her way to Town. I believe I told you M=rs= Southwell made a visit in her way to Kingsweston. I expect my Brother Charles this week. Miss Carter will only call for a few hours which is very grievous but I find she thinks herself obliged to accompany Miss Talbot to London. I hope Lady Bab does not still think that I w=d= desire her to make herself sick in return for her having done me a great favour. I beg my most affectionate & gratefull comp=ts= to her Ladyship. I assure you I did not part with Dionysius with any regret, I sh=d= not yet have begun it, nor am in ye least haste, & you make so good use of history it w=d= be strange [\BLOT\] [{not{] to be glad to furnish you with it. When I have given Dionysius one reading I will send it to you again to remain with you. I will also send you [\Blains\] chronology when I leave Sandleford. I must return to my Invalid so only desire my comp=ts= to Miss Arnold. I am my Dear Sister
   most tenderly & affect=ly= yours
   EM