BC_1770_EMONTAGU_MA

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<Q A 1770 FN MA EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO MARY ROBINSON. NOV 19 1770. LONDON. ADD. 40663. F. 15}]
<P1>
Hillstreet Nov y=e= 19=th= 1770 Dear Madam
   Your kind letter met me in Hillstreet on thursday, it welcomed me to London in a very agreable manner. I should however have felt a painful consciousness how little I deserved such a favour, if my long omission of correspondence had not been owing to want of health. I fell ill on my journey to Denton, or rather indeed began the journey indisposed, & only aggravated my complaints by travelling. Sickness & bad weather deprived me of the pleasure of seeing the beauties of Derbyshire, however I got a sight of the stately Palace of Lord Scarsdale; where, the arts of antient Greece, & the delicate pomp of modern ages, unite to make a most magnificent habitation. It is the best worth seeing of any House I suppose in England, but I know how it is, that one receives but moderate pleasure in the works
<P2>
of art. There is a littleness in every work of Man. The operations of Nature are vast & noble, & I found much greater pleasure in the contemplation of Lord Breadalbans Mountains, rocks, & Lakes, than in all the efforts of human art at Lord Scarsdales. I continued after my arrival at Denton in a very poor state of health, which suited ill with continual business, and made me unable to write letters in the hours of recess & quiet. D=r= Gregory came from Edinburgh to make me a visit, & perswaded me to ye Coach with him. the scheme promised much pleasure, & I flatterd myself might be conducive to health, as the Doctor, of whose medical skill I have the highest opinion, would have time to observe and consider my various complaints. I was glad also to have an opportunity of
amusing
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my friend M=rs= Chapone, who I carried into the North with me. We had a pleasant journey to Edinburgh, where we were most agreably entertain'd in Doctor Gregorys house. All the litterati & the polite company at Edinburgh paying me all kind of attentions, & by the Doctors regimen my health improved greatly, so that I was prevaild upon to indulge my love of prospects by another trip to the Highlands. My good friend & Physician still attending me. The first days journey was to Lord [\Barging\] [\BARJARG\] Brother to M=r= Charles Ereskine, who was the intimate companion & friendly competitor of my poor Brother Tom, each of them was qualified for the highest honour of their profession, which they w=d= have certainly attain'd had it pleased God to have granted longer life. L=d= [\Barging\] [\BARJARG\] had received great civilities at Horton when he was persuing
<P4>
his law studies in England, so he came to visit me as soon as I got to Edinburgh, & in the most friendly manner press'd my passing some days at his house in Perth & here. I got there by an easy days journey after having also walk'd a long time about the Castle of Stirling, which commands a very beautiful prospect. Lord Bargings place is very fine, & in a very singular style. His house looks to y=e= South over a very rich Valley, renderd more fertile as well as more beautiful by the meanderings of the River Forth. behind his House rise great Hills coverd with Wood, & over them stupendous rocks. The Goats look down with an air of [\philosophical COVERED\] pride & gravity on folks in the Valley. One in particular seem'd to me, capable of addressing the famous beast of [\Gevan/dun\] if he had [\been\] there with as much
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disdain as Diogenes did the great Conqueror of the East. Here I passd two days very agreably, & then his Lordship & my Doctor attended me to my old friend L=d= Kinnouls. You may imagine my visit there gave me a great deal of pleasure beside what arose from seeing a fine place. I was delighted to find an old friend enjoying that heartfull happiness which attends a life of virtue. Lord Kinnoul is continually employd in encouraging agriculture & manufactures, protecting the weak from injury, assisting y=e= distress'd, & animating the young people to whatever in their various stations is most fit & proper. He appears more happy in the situation than when he was whirled about in the Vortex of the Duke of Newcastle. The situation of a Scottish Nobleman of fortune is enough to fill the ambition of a reasonable man
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for they have power to do a great deal of good. From Dupplain we went to Lord [\Breadalbane COVERED\] at Faymouth. Here unite the Sublime & beautiful [\POSSIBLE PUNCTUATION COVERED\] The House is situated in a Valley where the verdure is the finest imaginable, & noble beeches adorn it, & beautiful cascades fall down the midst of it; through this Valley you are led to a Vast Lake, on one side the Lake there is a fine Country, on the other Mountains lift their heads & hide them in the Clouds, in some places ranges of Rocks look like vast fortifyed Cittadels. I passd two days in this fine place where I was entertaind with the greatest politeness & kindest attentions. Lord Breadalbane seeming to take the greatest pleasure in making every thing easy, agreable, & convenient. My next excursion was to Lord Kaimes's, & then I returnd to Edinburgh. With Lord Kaimes & his Lady I have had a
correspondence
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ever since I was first in Scotland, so I was there received with cordial Friendship. I must do the justice to the Scottish nation to say, they are the most politely hospitable of any people in the World. I had innumerable invitations of which I could not avail myself, having made as long a holyday from my business in Northumberland as I could afford. I am very glad to find by letters received from my Brother Robinson, that he thinks himself better for ye waters of aix. The news papers will inform you of the death of M=r= George Granville. I think he is a great loss to the publick, & tho in these days of ribbaldery & abuse he was often much calumniated, I believe time will vindicate his character as a publick [\man/] as a private one he was quite unblemish'd. I regret the loss to myself. I was always pleased & informd by his conversation. He had read a vast deal
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& had an amazing memory, he had been versed in business from his youth, so that he had a very rich fund of conversation, & he was good natured & very friendly. The Kings speech has a warlike tone, but still we flatter ourselves that the french Kings aversion to War may prevent our being again engaged in one. It is reported that M=r= de [\Grey\] is to be L=d= Keeper. Lord Chatham was to have spoken on the H: of Lords to day if poor M=r= Grenvilles death which [\happened COVERED\] at 7 this morning had not hinderd his appearing in publick. I do not find that any change of Ministry is expected.
   My Father & Brothers are very well, my Sister has got the headach today. She was so good as to come to me [\& will stay/] till M=r= Montagu arrives in Town. He did not leave Denton till almost a week after I came away, & he was stopd at Durham by waters
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being out; but I had the pleasure of hearing yesterday, that he got safe to Darlington, where he was to pass a few days with a famous Mathematician, but I expect him in Town the end of this week. My Nephew Morris has got great credit at Eton already. My Sister has in general her health extreamly well, & I have got much better than I was in the Summer. My doctors order me to forbear writing, but this letter does not shew my obedience to them, I wish I could enliven it with more news. The celebrated Coterie will go on in spite of all remostrances, & there is to be an assembly thrice a week for ye subscribers to ye Opera into ye subscription, so little impression do rumours of wars & apprehensions of the plague make on a fine World. I beg my most affectionate compliments to my Brother. I am in y=r=
<P10>
debt for my pretty Neices dancing master, which I forgot when I had ye pleasure of seeing you. I shall hope to supply her, as opportunity offers, with all the assistance of that sort which her happy genius will make of great use to her, but your constant care will supply many better things than those y=e= artists teach, & I do not doubt of her making an amiable & valuable Woman. My best wishes attend her, her pretty Brother & Sister. M=rs= Scott desires her best comp=ts=. With the most sincere regard I am dear Madam
   your very affectionate Sister
   and faithfull friend
   & H=ble= Serv=t=
EM
I know you will be glad to hear I left every thing in such order in ye North that I need not pay my devotions to ye pole star again of some years