BC_1768_EMONTAGU_EV_1

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<Q A 1768 TC EV EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH VESEY. FEB 2 1768. MO 6393}]
<P1>
Hillstreet feb y=e= 2=d= 1768
   My good Friend M=rs= Carter w=d= acquaint my Dear [\Sylph\] why I have been such an idle correspondent. I am now under S=r= John Pringles care & I hope he will bring my teeth & jaws into better humour, at present writing is very painfull & very hurtfull in its consequences The Duchess of Montagu is come to Town much mended by the Bath waters. The Duchess of Buccleugh has y=e= proper sloping kind of shape, which promises great joy to the noble family, & in a short time. Lady Primrose is much better than at the beginning of the winter, & M=rs= Carter, tho she had a bad summer, is now as well as ever I saw her; too much (\mauvaise honte\) & too much headach still, in all other respects as one could wish. Lady Anne Dawson seems placid & to wear her afflictions with angelick patience I sent y=r= letter to Brampton where she lodges
<P2>
Yesterday [\Hymen/] join_d the hands (Cupid before had united the hearts) of S=r= Geo Macartney & Lady Jane Stewart. A great deal of merit on both sides promises mutual happiness, & tho he has not a great estate his talents & her Friends are great enough to procure whatever they can wish. Our Friend Burke speaks better & better, but his Patron is not likely to be first Minister. Lord Bute is in a very bad state of health, eats only vegetables. Lord Bristol is grown a perfect Hercules, & looks as if he lived on y=e= roast beef of Old England. Lady Hervey is very well. Lord Lyttelton is extreamly well, & seems to live & thrive, but his History will survive him many Centurys. the little opposition envy made to y=e= history at first is subdued, & it is the fashion to admire it, many admire it who I believe cannot give any other reason. M=rs= Dunbar & M=rs= [\J/] Pitt are well. M=rs= Anne Pitt is going
<P 3>
to [\BLOT\] [\sell\] [\leave/] her House in Berkely Square to live at Kensington. Lady Louisa Clayton is very happy in her new state, & finds more felicity in retirement than she did at Court. M=r= Montagu passd y=e= Xmass at Sandleford, I with the blue stocking philosophers. I had parties of them to dine with me continually, & had my Sylph been of ye party, nothing had been wanting. I have got a new blue stocking with whom I am much pleased, a M=r= Percy who publish'd ye [\fragments DELETED\] [\Reliques/] of ye ancient Poetry, he is a very ingenious man, has many anecdotes of Ancient days, historical as well as Poetical. M=r= Walpoles Historick doubts came out yesterday. I have read about half the book, & have not yet either learnt or unlearnt any thing. I think this work appears plainly rather of [\ye growth of/] Strawberry Hill than of the Forked Hill. I do not mean that y=e= work is not amusing [\. INTO ,\] [\By INTO by\] the courtesy of modern Parnassus one is just soothd & pleased without
<P4>
being delighted or instructed. I am glad your gentleness was able to endure the rude frost we had this Xmass, it was horrible here. The Great Earl, erst the great Commoner, always the great Pensioner, has had ye gout in his foot, but it had not y=e= good effect on his spirits that was hoped. The D: of Bedford has recoverd his sight (I mean his corporeal vision) so as to discern (^faces^) , to discern minds is a more difficult talent. This Kingdom is all in bustle & confusion about Elections, & every Lady will be leaving London early in the Spring. The young Duchess of Portland is likely to encrease the noble family. The Dowager Duchess is very well. I have made my letter a perfect gazetteer. The next I write, & I hope to write soon shall be (^ (\mes pensees\) ^) but I thought you seem'd desirous of knowing the state of our World. I shall not think our World well constituted till the blue room is again open. My best comp=ts= attend M=r= Vesey & M=rs= Handcock. I am my Dear Madam Ever y=rs= EM