BC_1769_EMONTAGU_EC_2
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<Q A 1769? TC EC EMONTAGU> <X ELIZABETH MONTAGU> [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH CARTER. 1769? MS Hyde 7 (2)}] <P1> [\ADDED 1769\] I hope my Dear Friend is safe & well by her fireside enjoying the company of those near & dear friends from which she has been long absent. I beg my best thanks to Doctor Carter for having made me so happy at Sunning & I hope he will be rewarded for his goodness to me in finding your health has been improved there. I find the good effect of the waters on my bodily habit remain, & I hope that improvement my mind always receives from conversing with you will do so likewise, but alas the hourly delight I found in your conversation makes me regret my change of situation. I am terribly awkward without you, & can no way reconcile myself to this deprivation. Alas I ought rather to consider how little I deserved to be so happy. I really believe your company had a great share in my recovery. I thank God I am wonderfully well & have got into <P2> a habit of sleeping. I had the pleasure of finding M=r= Montagu in better health than he has had for some years & my little Man is very well & very good. M=r= Montagu had company at dinner on Monday & I arrived before the Dessert was taken off the table tho I indulged my Servants at Reading with that meal which good health & exercise enables them to insert between breakfast and dinner without detriment to their digestion of ye one or appetite to the other. On tuesday I saunterd about the garden with great delight, writing a letter between each walk so that I thought my vast epistolary debt in some degree lessend but yesterday brought me more letters than the most able & strong Tim whisky could have carried. A broad wheel waggon w=d= have groaned under them. Some of these I have answerd, others will sit heavily on my Soul tomorrow. I am impatient to hear how you found Miss Talbot. Since I came hither I met with <P3> M=r= Garricks ode printed with his apology for undertaking the arduous task of writing an ode, the modesty of his apology should soften ye asperity of the Criticks if Criticks asperity could be soften'd but of all [\venemous\] [\weeping\] things they are the most deaf to ye voice of the Charmer. In this Preface M=r= Garrick recommends to those not yet establishd in their dramatical faith to read The Essay, of which he speaks very honourably. I [\suppose\] [\TEAR\] this gave occasion to what M=rs= Vesey said [\concerning\] [\TEAR\] M=r= Garricks approbation of it. I take this kindly of him because I suppose he now pretty near guesses at ye Author, & as we have not been upon very good terms it is the more obliging. At the end of this little pamphlet he has given the testimonies of the great Writers of former times, & the lively writers of these times to the merity of his Shakespear, [\&/] the names of each Author except when he quotes y=e= Essay & there I had y=e= satisfaction to read Author [\BLOT\] [\unknown\] <P4> I know with ye arch malice of a round [\face/] not ye peevish air of a long visage, you will say, M=r= & M=rs= [\Hoad\] could have told y=e= Author. I sent ye dear folks some partridges by the baggage Waggon to stop their mouths. I have not a frank & I will not make [\WRITTEN AROUND ADDRESS SPACE\] you pay double postage. I will get some franks of my Neighbour Herbert & then I will write (\à toute outrance\) Let me know how you do & what you do Best respects to y=e= Doctor & all y=r= family. I am every most affectly yrs EM [\ADDRESS\] To / M=rs= E Carter / at Deal / Kent [\ADDED Mall 6?\] [\SEAL\] [\STAMP: 29/SE\]