BC_1768_EMONTAGU_ED_1

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<Q A 1768? FN ED EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO EDWARD MONTAGU. MO 2683. [1768 JAN] 5. LONDON. INCORRECTLY DATED DEC 5, 1767}]
<P1>
Tuesday, y=e= 5 Dec [\ADDED? 1767\] My Dearest
   I am much rejoyced to find you endure this severe weather so well. Fareinheits Thermometer was 14 degrees below freezing point on wen'sday last. I can endure the weather tolerably well when I sit just over the fire, but it renders me almost incapable of any occupation but reading for my fingers soon become numb, & I ake with cold. In all this violence of weather the Duke of Newcastle is recovering of a fever & inflammation on the lungs, & returns to health with y=e= same rapidity one sh=d= expect of one in the meridian of life. L=d= Chatham is at Hayes & is about taking a House in Town, but I do not find that his Creatures have any hope of his returning to take a part in business, for y=e= least discourse on publick affairs throws him into strange agitation. I dined yesterday at Bath House. Every thing was in the
<P2>
Same state as in Lord Baths time; handsome dinner, great number of attendants &c and as the present possessors can walk up & down stairs the whole House was well illuminated, & warm_d with large fires, & had more the air of a Gentlemans House in the Country than of a Hotel in Town; upon ye modern plan, as two or three rooms are all one usually passes through. What you say of the state of the poor is too true, their case is perfectly wretched in such a Season & it is among the duties of humanity to give some relief upon occasions of this kind. As ones purse is limited, it is right to make what one can give go as far as possible in serving them, & therefore it is often best to provide them with food, as one can do it at a cheaper rate than they can do for themselves. If on y=e= Market day my friend Woodhouse w=d= buy during this Season 40 pound of coarse beef
<P3>
and a Sheeps head or two [\& DELETED\] of this [\stock/] four Coppers of broth might be made, a Copper each day for 4 days in y=e= Week, the broth must be made savorery with onions & thicken'd with pease or rice, all y=e= remnants of cold meat & senaps & crusts of bread sh=d= be put into it, & some common black pepper beaten. even ye liquer bacon has been boild in may be mixd with it. If some brown bread was baked & some cut into their broth it w=d= do well. Woodhouse knows how to make a cheap rice pudding. Thus one poor family might every day be [\WORD DELETED\] [\served/] at a small charge & y=e= quantity I mention w=d= feed them for 4 days adding only their bread to it. Pottatoes might be bought cheap by ye bushel & a quantity boild [\& mashed/] & then put under roasting meat to catch ye dripping w=d= make a good pudding. M=r= Woodhouse will find many
<P4>
ways to feed y=e= poor Creatures at a reasonable rate which will make y=r= kindness ye farther. To very old people some coarse warm wrapping is perhaps ye highest charity. As you seem desirous to relieve ye poor you may tell Woodhouse what you w=d= give & he & Daphne will manage notably. I hope y=r= rheumatism will not increase as it is a painfull companion. My cold is better a great deal. Poor Lord Lyttelton continues much indisposed & confined to his House. Several people are indisposed with the severity of ye weather. Pray remember me to M=r= Woodhouse & Daphne: With great esteem & all good wishes
   I am my Dear
   y=r= most affectionate
   and faithfull Wife
   EM