BC_1748_EMONTAGU_AD_2

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<Q A 1748? TC AD EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
[}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ANNE DONNELLAN. 1748? JUNE 15. MO 856. CAMBRIDGE}]
<P1>
Cambridge 15=th= of june Dear Mad=m=
   As I date my letter from the modern Capitol of the Muses you will perhaps expect that I should send you some strains of Immortal Poetry, but I have not yet met with any such thing; & must rather give an account of the Buildings than the literary Works of the University. I had some pleasure in the recollection of the easy careless years of Infancy, some part of which I pass'd here with [\with DELETED\] the most tender of Relations [\ever DELETED\] a fond Grandmother; in comparison of whose indulgence all other indulgence is severity, as you must be sensible if ever you had the greatest of infant comforts a Grandmother. So much for my particular circumstances, then to the general Situation of the University. the Colleges do not in general stand so as to give ornament to the Town as those at Oxford, but if the Town is the worse for it the Colleges are the better, as they open to the fields & [\from/] thence receive & give a fine prospect Kings College, Clare Hall, & Trinity Library, & the finest of Gothick Buildings Kings College Chapel make
<P2>
A beautifull appearance from the Publick Walks: Trinity College is a most Noble thing, the quadrangle is a sixth part bigger than that of Christs church in Oxford. the Library is a very handsome & esteem'd one of the finest Rooms in the World, in the Library there is preserved the Skeleton of a Gentleman who left his bones as a monument of his Regard to Mankind on purpose to instruct even the most superficial observer in the formation of the Human body & at the same time [\WORD INTO design'd\] that his name like his body might be snatch'd from the Grave; how various are the Roads to Fame! some seek them by Grand & pompous Obsequies, others expect them for not having Christian burial, and prefer to be rememberd by a Magnificent Tomb or the Want of a Coffin. I always thought Vanity the very marrow of a Human Creature & behold it sticks to [\UNCLEAR\] y=e= bones. I have been greatly amused here by seeing y=e= fine buildings but what gives me the greatest pleasure is the seeing D=r= Middleton married to a Person who seems formed to make him happy she is very well bred & agreable has a most obliging temper likes his manner of Life shows him the greatest regard, & among her accomplish=mts= I must take
<P3>
Notice of her playing on the Harpsicord, which the Judges say she does in great perfection. I found my two Brothers very well & extreamly happy in their situation I had letters yesterday from London by which I find that Master Knight has got the small pox, so I cannot return to Golden Square, & should therefore be infinitely obliged to you if you could lend me a feather bed Blankets & Bolster & I have orderd the two pair of stairs Rooms [\in Hillstreet/] which were paperd at Michaelmass to be aired for me to lodge in [\SEAL\] few da[{ys{] [\TEAR\] I shall stay in Town: for you know I have invincible objections to Lodgings, & I think that apartment must be dry, as it was finish'd so long ago: but my featherbeds not having been used I feard they would require a long time to dry. I propose to be in Town on Monday. for as matters have fallen out I must give a little time for [\y=e=/] preparation of our House. & I hope you will excuse my troubling you for a Bed but I will take care it shall not receive any damage. M=r= Montagu desires his compliments, our Youths add theirs, my best respects attend M=rs= Percival & say something very soft & tender for me to the little Pere. I wish you much pleasure with the nightingales of Northend, & you have a good right to be of so harmonious a Society. I am ever
   D=r= Madam Your sincerely
  affect: E. Montagu
[\ADDRESS\] To / M=rs= Donnellan / At The Hon=ble= M=rs= Percivals / In Hanover Square / London / Free / Edw: / Montagu.
[\SEAL\]