BC_1744_EMONTAGU_AD

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<Q A 1744? TC AD EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
[}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ANNE DONNELLAN. 1744? JUN 7. MO 843. SANDLEFORD. INCOMPLETE.}]
<P1>
june y=e= 7=th= [\1744 ADDED\] My Dear friend
   You will be glad to hear my boy is wean'd without costing him any tears, or his Mother any Sighs: He is as contented ( [\BLOT\] [\now\] he finds he cannot have any thing better) with milk porridge as ever he was with the other manner of Taking his Nourishment, in short health gives a Relish to all kinds of fare, & children who know nothing better than Ease are sure to be merry when they are not in pain, it is owing to our Refinements that we are not always as easily Contented. The Country is now extreamly delightfull, all Nature is in bloom, every Being joyous & happy, it seems to me impossible that any Citizen of so fair a World should harbour any Gloomy Care in their breast It is a vain pretence we make to delicacy & Taste while we prefer a Dirty Town to the Country in the fine Season; All the arts of Luxury cannot invent any
<P2>
Pleasures equal to what one receives from soft Air, Moderate Sunshine, a Gay Scene of Prospect, & the musick of the feather'd songsters; Sir William Temple said his three wishes were Health, peace, & fair Weather, I have often thought that saying not the least wise of many of [\his/] admired Sentences Some may despise wishes that include neither Riches power [\or INTO nor\] fame, but to me [\He\] appears a Fine philosopher above the admiration of those pernicious or pompous trifles we call great, & as one who only desired an agreable leisure in which to think & study, as if he [\thought INTO look'd\] upon knowledge to [\be/] the Greatest Riches; The Government of himself the best [\Exercise of/] power, & innocence & Virtue the best character; beyond the Vulgar applause & Popular fame attendant on Successfull tho unrighteous ambition. I have often thought if every one was to tell their real wishes Corisca w=d= no longer be thought Ridiculous, there are
<P3>
Such trifling & monstrous follies in the World, that were it not for the mischeivous Errors of the Mighty (which turn Human Life to a Tragedy) it would be a farce. How few would chuse S=ir= W: Temples Serene Fate! I have pass'd my time here without much interruption from Company, my little Man has been my cheif Companion, he is finely improved, & it gives me a double pleasure to observe [\it/] because I know the joy it will give his good Father, the happiness that is shared with a friend is said to give double delight, I think we may go farther & say perfect delight. I expect M=r= Montagu here on monday & I think I am as impatient to show him his fine boy as to see him my self. I wrote to M=rs= Dettemere (the poor Woman you kindly relieved) to bring two of her work'd Caps to you, as you said you w=d= be so good as to endeavour to dispose of them for her. if you could easily do it: I dare say your Servants who are used to open a Hospitable
<P4>
Door to the Poor will admit her: unfortunate merit is modest & too easily discouraged, but there is no fear she should meet with any discouragement in the House of Charity: & I suppose she will ask for [\you if/] you are at leisure & if not leave her Caps. Your Bounty, the Dutchess of Portlands, & some others have put her in some Spirits, but when people have been long unhappy without any guilt of their own it is enough to make them despond, & doubt of a Providence, however this Poor Woman is patient & resign'd to affliction & tho' all apparent Circumstances have turnd contrary to her, yet owns an invisible assistance from Heaven that has supported her under them all. I have a thousand letters to write or perhaps this w=d= be still longer. My Compliments to M=r= & M=rs= Percival & D=r= Donnellan: I forgot to tell him when I saw him last that Col Graham has two Horses to sell, if they have the Coll's courage they will not start, but if they have his Spirits they will run away [\with him/] and leap over Bounds your Brother w=d= not pass, so let him inquire into y=e= Characters of the Horses for I only know they are to be sold.
[\REST MISSING\]
[\FOLDED\]