BC_1762_EMONTAGU_EV_3

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<Q A 1762 TC EV EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
[}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH VESEY. 1762 SEPTEMBER 7. HUNTINGTON LIBRARY: NO MO NUMBER}]
<P1>
Sandleford y=e= 7=th= of Sept
1762
Dear Madam
     I am as angry as you can be, at the peevish destinies, who decreed we should not meet at Southampton. Have not these fatal virgins the thread of all Heroes [\lives/] in [\E...\] on their distaffe, & the shears of war in their hands? & with such great mischief in their power, who meddle with our parties & amusements? Our going to Southampton was not resolved till the night before we set out the precariousness of my health, & a doubt whether it would be agreable to M=r= Montagu, made me afraid to propose [\it/] till I found he was at leisure to go, & I was well enough to venture. With much alacrity I set out on an expedition which promised me a Sight of M=rs= Vesey & her friends. I shall give the order of our progress as you desire. We went from hence to Winchester, to shew my Sister this Cathedral; the body of it was built by William of Wickham, the munificent minister of a prodigal Prince by such persons, & in such times, the noblest publick works are perfected
[\especially/] where, as in this case, the Donors good taste directs has [\liberality\]
The Church of Winchester is one of most beautifull Gothic buildings I ever saw, there is Majesty & simplicity united. Art borrow'd the pattern from nature, for it [\is/] just a long [\arch\] of fir trees roof'd, all the beams & rafters represent the crossing and interlacing of the boughs. There are the bones of several saxon Kings deposited [\here/] in a sort of trunk's. You know a small space will contain
<P2>
the dead bodies of men of much more intended dominion than our Saxon Princes. Much painted, gilded, decorated, lies Cardinal Beauforts figure on his tomb; his present appearance & former character, makes one consider him rather as High Priest to the Scarlet Dame of Babylon, than as a descendant of the Apostles. We should next have visited, if our time had not been [\as\] limited, the famous round table which tradition calls King Arthurs. I believe [\fable/] made this mighty champion & this gave him a round table & Knights to desire at it, but in commemoration of his feasts, the Knights of later days did realy give great publick entertainments [\at this table/] after their jests & Tournaments, which more often held near Winchester, The said table is therefore very venerable in the eyes of all true lovers of ancient Chivalry, & I wish'd to pay my respects to it. But when we had dined, we found we must make the best of our way to the Militia camp. We drank tea at M=r= Norborne Berkelys tent. The days of Chivalry never produced more courteous or more [\UNCLEAR\] Cavalier, & I wish_d I had brought him Arthurs round table, which his liberality would replenish, & his hospitality adorn. The camp is prettily disposed on a fine rising ground. But what much delighted the peaceable beholder was, to see the sheep feeding , & the tender lambkins
 frisking, amongst the tents of these doughtily Militia men. No neighing steeds impatient for battle, no smiths mending armour (^gave note of dreadfull preparation^), when the band of musick & the drums ceased, the sheep bleated, once indeed the Drum beat in a very spirited manner, & almost alarm'd my cowardly Spirit, but upon being assured it was only for dinner, I was
<P3>
convinced I might stay in the camp very safely, where I believe no mischief  will happen, unless some Militia Hero, should like Ajax run mad, & slay sheep in his ire. It grew dark before we rea_chd Southampton, by which means we lost a very fine prospect, but any prospect was M=rs= Vesey, I ask'd my Landlord when I [got to the Inn if you was still at Southampton? he said he believed so, I had intended following you to the publick room if you had been there; to have accosted you with great [\UNCLEAR\], & have enjoy'd your [\UNCLEAR\]. My sister who had a violent head ach conceal'd it as much as she could, that I might go in my frolick with good spirits. I was much grieved when I sent to your lodgings to find you had left Southampton that very day. My poor sister soon went to bed excessively ill, so the evening concluded in a melancholly manner. She was pretty well the next day, & we went to the Castle of Southampton, of the beauty of the prospect there, I shall not say any thing, as you are undoubtedly better acquainted with it than I am. From Southampton we came home through a country, which the Squires who are of the race of Nimrod & love hunting much extoll, but to me it appear'd bleak & desolate. The D: of Marbrough is descended from a Hero who made rapid conquests, so I do not wonder at his manner of proceeding; but I imagine, he hunted as much to the fair ones being well disposed to him, as to his invincible name, in spite of which he would know, That wilful love he must [\WORD DELETED\] [\with/] smiles appe[{ase?{]
     approach his awfull throne by just degrees,
     and if he wou'd be happy, learn to please When Cupid invites Hymen, tho reckon'd the least complaisant of
<P4>
all the Divinities, he will come at moments warning. when Hymen invites Cupid, it is a thousand to one the ungracious boy never comes at all. I see the whole affair of this wedding has been conducted by the God of love, Hymen & he pronounced the nuptial benediction & all the World will say amen to it. I could chide you my Dear friend for not having your letters sent to you to Southampton. you would then have met Lord Lyttelton at [\Sandleford/]  M=r= Lyttelton & he staid a week here, & left us on friday. I was disappointed of my Lord Baths company, so poor Lord Lyttelton had but a dull party: to amuse him, we carried him to see all the places in this neigborhood that can boast of any remarkable beauty, but we have not any place that can at all compare to Hagley. The news of Admiral Smythes death arrived on wenesday night, it gave great grief to Lord Lyttelton, and will cast a damp on the pleasures of Hagley. M=r= Montagu & I took great pains to perswade his Lordship to stay a week or fortnight longer with us, not to fall in with the funeral ceremony & see the place so immediately after the death of his friend & Brother, but we could not prevail, he had appointed company & would not put them off I am glad you received the vision safe, & beg of you not to let it go out of your hands, for I would not have it get into the news papers. I fancy I should make such a figure in print as an insect does in spirits of wine in the Brittish Museum; on my native cabbage [\but[?]/]  I am a good kind of harmless animal, but I don't like to be examined by the virtuosi, nor to have my insignificancy preserved in immortal verse. If Lord Lytteltons Metamorphosis of me would
<P5>
pass, I should like it very much, but my poetical decorations will be taken [\off/] & I shall be consider'd in my original and natural form, to which obscurity is the best friend. You are very good in your concern for my health. I was pretty well before I went to Southampton, & thought the journey & change of air of service to a bad cough that hung upon me but the night I came home I was very ill again, & am now growing better. I am sorry you want the help of [\UNCLEAR\] Galin: he cured me of the toothach, & fasten'd two teeth which began to loosen, but the pain of the operations, & the disagreableness of the oils & other things with which he washes the mouth is such, I cannot advise you without great necessity to apply to him. I am less afraid of pain than most people, not only from having read my friends translation of a stoick philosopher with great attention, but indeed by being accustom'd to pain, but yet I cannot say M=r= Galins operations are no evil. I beg when you write that you inform [\me/] how the Duchess of Portland does. I am afraid her health & spirits are not so good as I wish them . Lady Hervey does me great honor in enquiring after me. I wish you would be so good as to present my compliments. I shall have a greater pleasure in one good news from the Havannah for the particular interest Lady Hervey takes in it, as her Ladyships adds much to the pleasure of polite life in London, I fancy she improves rural life in the Country, & that the graces play about [\her/] there as the sheep flock about the Militia men who before they were encamped were Shepherds & used to lead them. I shall be much obliged
<P6>
to you for sending me any news, for I hear nothing but the whispering of the wind here. On the 17=th= I expect my Lord Bath & Doctor Monsey, & between gracefull wisdom & agreable folly I expect to be well amused, in the mean time I divert my self with my books, & my eyes are so complaisant as to let me entertain myself as much as I please, & I often remember yours & M=rs= Carters care, & M=r= Gatiliers skill with gratitude. You see that at your commands my pen has changed the habit of being tired, to that of tiring. I wish you may have [\ye/] obstinacy not to [\repent\] of so rash an order, but I am always with the most ready obedience
     Dear Madam
     Your Faithfull Hum=ble= Ser=t=
     E: Montagu I beg my best respects to Lady Primrose & M=rs= Hancock. I am very sorry to hear Lady Primrose is not in perfect health. I am very much in earnest as to what I said about ye vision. You know I would not let M=rs= Carter print my name.