BC_1776_EMONTAGU_SS_1

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<Q A 1776 FN SS EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO SARAH SCOTT. MAY 2 1776. MO 5986}]
<P1>
May 2=d= 1776 My dear Sister
   I heartily pity what you must have felt at y=e= confirmation of a certain very foolish affair, The first hint I received of it from an anonymous letter absolutely gave me a fever. I have heard of Men who have dyed of a swearing fever, but Ladies you know cannot have ye disorder attended by such an irruption, & anger like [\another/] other [\distempers\] , is dangerous in the degree it is thrown out. I [\took\] my temper at last, thinking [\ye letter misrepresented ye case, & that it/] [\it DELETED\] was an affair for which a Man does penance only once in a white sheet, but it seems it is of that sort for which a Man does penance all his Life. I knew of this affair some days before I left London, but was enjoynd secrecy. For my own part, I wish the poor Man may be much more happy than he has [\been/] prudent, but that is what rarely happens. I believe she is a good sort of Woman, & if he can forget all ye improprieties he has committed for her he may live easily & comfortably. When I think of the vanity & pride with which I once used to [\WORD DELETED\]
<P2>
to appear at Canterbury Races where our Father & Mother were ye envy of every body, & think of y=e= figure the family makes at present, it strikes me deeply. I thank my stars my property is not in Kent, I never desire to shew myself there to set people to tell [\y=e= Roman Comique &/] all ye uncommon things that have befallen our family. Papa who hates those who do him honour, will I hope in ye same spirit do [\& say/] something very handsome for poor Charles on this occasion. As for me, I shall behave with great civility to them, & act with friendship, for a Man is not to ask his Sisters consent to marry, & in marrying ill, tho he disgraces his family to a certain degree, it is not to be expected that he sh=d= have a more nice sense of honour for others than for himself. His youth & want of knowledge of the World, & not having the countenance & protection of [\a/] Father & Mother & a creditable home, but being by some particular circumstances thrown into low company a great
<P3>
deal excuse him. I wish the pangs of his delivery were over, poor thing I pity him with all my heart. Alas! Poor Benedict y=e= married man! It is impossible to warn my Nephews against such sort of marriages & I dread ye example. They have a very improper way at Lincolns Inn fields of talking of ye beauty of Girls to my little Man, & he always comes home full of y=e= subject. My dear Papa used to do the same. If my Brothers were religious men I c=d= excuse them, but never to go to Church but just on ye occasion in which a Wise Man, actuated by y=e= motives of this World w=d= not go thither, seems a judgment upon Sabbath breaking. I cannot account for it any other way, but that same Sabbath breaking, which many an unhappy Youth at y=e= Gallows confesses brought him to a shamefull end. I really was so deceived by Charles unembarassed Countenance whenever I mentioned marriage to him, that I had expell'd y=e= suspicion y=e= horrid anonymous letter gave me. There [\is DELETED\] [\was/] something generous & delicate in the proceedings of his Wife in not claiming her rank & name till the Childs interest required it
<P4>
There is one nasty thing in human nature which makes these family disasters more terrible. The offender never forgives y=e= offended, you may pardon your relation but he is lost to you, he fancies you feel his fault more sensibly than y=e= rest of y=e= World as you are more hurt by it, & therefore rarely is a cordial friend. However my dear Sister all these mortifications [\& disgraces/] affect only a short period of a short life, & it is not worth while to be very serious about what shall decorate or disgrace y=e= little theatre in which our petite peice is to be acted. I am sorry that as this affair is to be produced he sh=d= delay it as he will be unhappy till it is over.
   I am much y=e= better for ye Country. I was at Newtown Church on Sunday, & y=e= people congratulated White on my looking so well, & all y=e= poor people I have seen have told me they are glad to see me so brave & well. The quiet of this place after y=e= hurley burley of London is delightfull. Since I came out of Town Mad=me= Necker y=e= Genoese Ministers Lady at Paris has been at my door in Hillstreet, she is reckond one of y=e= most learned Ladies in Europe, she brought a letter of recommendation
<P5>
to me from Paris, & I am really sorry she did not arrive till I had left London. I shall be solicitous to hear of poor Charles's happy delivery. I hope my unknown Neice will be a good girl, if she is as good humoured as her Father we shall like her. I hope as Charles has not offended my Father by making a good & profitable alliance y=e= old Gentleman will not abuse him at y=e= Coffee house. I am curious to know what he will say on y=e= occasion. I hope he will not be cross to poor Charles.
   You will be glad to hear our poor Brother John is in good health & very serene. he is grown very plump. He has apparently more sense & apprehension than he had. He was here ye day of my arrival
<P6>
and saw y=e= Cloth laid for my dinner, & Rob=t= told him he w=d= bring him to see me, but did not mean to do it that day, but the poor thing it seems expected it, & at night told Rob=t= he was a deceiving blockhead, for he had not carried him to Lady Montagu as he calls me. I took y=e= opportunity when Matt was out on horseback to invite him, and I was walking in y=e= Garden expecting he w=d= come in by y=e= Gravel Walk, but they brought him through y=e= Hall, & carried him into ye dressing room, where not finding [\him DELETED\] [\me/] he gave signs of discontent, & said he never hurt Ladies. I ran up as soon as I heard he was in y=e= dressing room, he said in
<P7>
his manner, that he was not mad, that he sometimes utterd a foolish maxim. I treated him with some Wine & china oranges, he sat near an hour, & then went away very peaceably. I sent him some asparagus yesterday & (\blanc manger\) to day. He talkd incoherently sometimes in my dressing room, & a good deal about Bondstreet. I gave him a little snuff box. He often repeats at home that I dont come from Bondstreet. I assure you he does not look very pleasant when that said Bondstreet is uppermost in his mind, but in general he was very good humoured & smiling. I intend to call on him tomorrow. When do you expect my Bro=r= & Sister William. Is my new discoverd Neice as tall as her Father or as short as her Mother. I believe you have not seen her since she was at M=rs= Cotes's, It is great pity as we have 3 Nephews there are but 2 Greenlands left for us
<P8>
I wish M=rs= Smith of [\Hayton\] had been [\struck/] dumb before she made her piteous harangues or that I had been deaf to y=e= tale of woe for once. Cupid is a comical boy but he never devised before any thing so drole as 2 Bro=rs= marrying 2 Sisters in this fashion. It is a fine subject for y=e= Gossips at Canterbury. I hope if my Bro=r= Robinson marries it will be to some fair Dalilah of ye Philistines who will cut off his hair that y=e= family may get some credit back again. If you can contrive it get poor Charles to own this affair for anxiety of mind is very bad for his complaint. I dont see why he sh=d= not bring his Wife to London as she is frugal she will not put him to much expence; & it will mortify her to be absent from her deary. M=r= Greenland sh=d= give him all y=e= fees he can, for his Sisters sake, & my Bro=r= Morris was certainly y=e= cause of y=e= match, as he lent his name to one Sister Charles thought he might do ye same to ye other. So between these 2 [\UNCLEAR\] Bro=rs= he ought to have a good deal of business. My Br=or= Morris under promise of secresy acquainted me with this affair just before I left London I did not doubt but he believed it, but I flatterd myself it was [\possibly/] only from ye Ladys report to her Sister that he spoke tho I was under apprehensions but till the Gentleman himself own_d it I was determined not to take any measures in consequence of it Pray enquire punctually & exactly my Neices Christian name & let me know it
<P9>
Poor M=rs= Freinds situation is terrible. Her knowing you is a strong testimony of a deep rooted affection I call_d ye other morn: on a certain Neighbour of mine he is in perfect health, chearfull, & smiling, he came with me to ye door of ye Chaise Miss Gregory was amazed to see him grown so fat & fresh colourd. He was at dinner on fish & a breast of Veal when I went in. He is now rarely out of temper, he is very fond of Patt [\TEAR\]
[\TEAR\] takes her in his arms. He walks out [\TEAR\]
[\TEAR\] unless it rains. I have enjoyd [\an/] uncommon share of health ever since I came to Sandleford. I take an airing every day which terribly devours my mornings. I hope you have received ye tribute of a turkey & cream from my Farm. I am glad to hear all our Kin is in good health. M=rs= Robinson said my Bro=r= Morris had been ill. I wish y=r= cold was gone & y=r= melancholly attendance on y=r= unhappy Neighbour at an end & then I sh=d= flatter myself you might continue to feel y=e= good effect of y=r= summers excursion which certainly did you great service. I am most affect=ly=
   your most affect=ly=
   EMontagu
<P10>
[\ADDRESS\] M=rs= Scott / Lawrence Street / Chelsea