BC_1740_EMONTAGU_ER_5

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<Q A 1740? FN ER EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH ROBINSON TO ELIZABETH (DRAKE) ROBINSON. 1740 JULY 22? BULSTRODE. MO 4712}]
<P1>
Madam
   Much visiting has of late hinder'd my writing to you. My Lady Dutchess does not care to spare me to write except when she is so employ'd too, & the time set on part for that is the evening, & when we make visits at any distance it is late before we return, & letters go from here between ten & eleven; when we first came down we supt at nine, but we found so early an hour encroach'd too much upon our hours of writing, so now we sup at ten, at which time the Duke comes into the Dutchess's dressing Room where we write together, & franks our Packets, which indeed are pretty large. On Saturday we were at Windsor to visit Miss Granvilles daughters to the famous L=d= Lansdown, they unhappily inherit neither the wit of their Father nor beauty of their Mother, the youngest will make a tolerable pretty Woman, but for Miss Granville
<P2>
She wears her merit with as little ornament as ever I saw, without one charm of person or understanding, she has merit which does not engage, & good sense which does not please (they say she has sense who know her, but it is not quite apparent to Strangers) she is quite unprovided for, & is such a one as many will pitty but I fear none will help, I mean in the matrimonial way, her Sister I believe will have a tolerable person when she is a Woman, but seems to me disagreable enough, the Dutchess is very civil to them, Miss Granville was her acquaintance from infancy, & it is very right in her to take notice of her now. Lord Weymouth supports them, but how long he will be willing or able to do that no one knows, he is extreamly good natured but his companions do them no good offices. On Sunday I was at M=rs= Hares widow to the Late Bishop Hare, & was much entertain'd there by S=r= John Shadwell & his family who are just come
<P3>
From Abroad, they gave us an account of several things which diverted us better than one is usually entertain'd at a Country visit. Lady Shadwell saw Lady Mary Wortley at Venice where she now resides, & ask'd her what made her leave England, she told them the reason was people were grown so stupid she could not endure their company, all England was infected with dullness, by the by what she means by insupportable dullness is her husband, for it seems she never intends to come [\WORDS INTO back\] while he lives, a Husband may be but a dull Creature to one of Lady Marys sprightly genius but methinks even her vivacity might accommodate itself to living in the Kingdom with him, She is a Woman of great family merit, she has banish'd her Children & abandon'd her husband, I suppose as she cannot reach Constantinople she will limit her Ambition to an intrigue with the Pope or the Doge of Venice.
<P4>
Tho the Imperial signal of the handkercheif may better delight her Ambition, say nothing of what I have said at Hatch, because there they hold her Virtues in great Veneration, judging her by her words which are good, without considering how her practice follow'd her precepts, I know some others who are the dupes of her dissimulation, I believe I forgot to tell you I had a letter from M=rs= Clayton just before I left Town, she was then very well, when I have answer'd it I will send it to you. Miss Betty Fowler is married to M=r= Chaddock, more I fancy to her content than M=r= Danes, who now loses the hopes of her fortune, they are all in Town I suppose now the Wedding is over they will go down. The Duke of Leeds's wedding was very grand, the Duke of Newcastles Entertainment upon the occasion was fifteen dishes in a Course four Courses, the Dutchess of Newcastle Sister to L=dy= Mary Godolphin & M=r= Hay are gone down with the Duke and Dutchess of Leeds. The Dutchess had a [\diamond/] necklace from her Mother worth ten thousand pound she was very fine in Cloaths & jewels, the old Duchess of
<P5>
Marlbro' is now mightily fond of her, her Grace is [\at\] Law with the Duke of Marlbro', she talk'd two hours like the Widow Blackacre in Westminster Hall, amongst things of value which she was to surrender to the Duke there was the late Dukes fine sword & George, [\BLOT\] [\Oh\] says [\she/] as for the George he will sell it, but for the Sword he won't know what to do with that, so I believe he will lay it by, or may [\be/] if He can he will pawn it, he can make no other use of it I am sure. I am sorry my Brother Robert has not got any of our letters, he was very good to write to us all, he is lately much reconciled to pen & ink. Pray have you heard from the dear little boys, I design to write to them soon [\WORD DELETED\] I have thought of them very often, but I have always forgot to enquire their direction, I think it is at Scorton near Richmond, but I am not sure, so I beg the Person who writes next would inform me. I had a letter yesterday from Morris who I find proposes to be with you very soon, then you will be a pretty sound family. I believe you are under great apprehensions of my having too much spirits, but I assure [\you/] in that it is not easy to exceed the family I am in, we enjoy much mirth & laughter here from the continuance of good humour & the enjoyment of all Wordly happiness their chearfulness is quite uninterrupted I never saw them out of temper in my life. the Dutchess desires her compliments to you & my Pappa pray give my duty to him & love to my Brothers & Sister I am Madam
   Y=r= [\TEAR\] [{Most{] Dutifull Daughter E Robinson
[\ADDRESS\] To / M=rs= Robinson / At Mount Morris / Near Hythe /
In / Kent