BC_1768_EMONTAGU_EV_3
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<Q A 1768 TC EV EMONTAGU> <X ELIZABETH MONTAGU> [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH VESEY. 1768 OCT 10. SANDLEFORD. MO 6395}] <P1> Sandleford Oct y=e= 10=th= 1768 Great was the pleasure I received from my Dear M=rs= Vesey [\letter/] it found me in Berkshire sitting by the (^Summer fire^) , which has none of the joys of the winters fire, round which ones friends are assembled [\UNCLEAR\] [\just?\] & [\pans\] crackle, & y=e= (\petit mot [\plaisire\] \) [\sposh\] about in joyous circle. As dull as the gravest, as serious as the [\wisest/] philosopher, has (\l'ame du monde le moins philosophique\) pass'd there last five months, under the shades of melancholly boughs drooping with continual rain. It is true I made two trips to London since, y=e= beginning of May, but I staid merely long enough to dispatch y=e= business that carried me thither, & return'd to nurse M=r= Montagu, who has been a perfect invalid for many months. If the Rooks talk_d as you talk for them, I could not advise <P2> you to leave them even for birds of Paradise, but as naturaly they have not (\le bon ton\) , pray come away to London. We propose to repair to that Noble Metropolis the end of this month, & I am impatient to enjoy the delights of the blue room. I lament, for my Foreign Friends, that they had the misfortune not to be introduced to you & M=r= Vesey, & I lament for myself, that I had not the honour of conferring so great an obligation upon them. M=rs= Carter has informd [\you/] that she was long engaged in consoling the melancholly family at Lambeth. Your Friend M=r= Burke has bought a pretty House & estate at Beaconsfield. Lord Lyttelton has been all the Summer at Hagley, it is almost two months since I heard from him, but he was then very well. I attribute his silence to his respect to Henry y=e= 2=d=, & his Love to Fair Rosamund. Lord & Lady Anglesea are the fondest of Turtles, which makes Lord Lyttelton, who remembers his own happy days of Turtleism very happy. <P3> [\But\] I dont believe the Turtle feast of the noble pair above mention'd to be made of such elegant ingredients as my good Lords & his [\Fair\] Lucy, however it is still Turtle. M=r= Stillingfleet is gone to Bath in [\a\] very good state of health. I think the rest of our Friends are pretty well. D=r= Monsey has lately done a thing worthy of himself, & which both in itself, & from the greatness of the (\Dramatis Personae\) , may be call'd High Comedy. The King of Denmark, who came out of his own Country to see Citties & men, has not seen such [\a DELETED\] [\another/] man, or such [\a DELETED\] [\another/] sight as the great Monsey, & the great Monseys bedchamber. His Danish Majesty went to visit Chelsea College, & the Doctor there explaind to him a mathematical Instrument of singular construction, but afterwards, I know not how, nor why, he carried his Majesty & [\his UNCLEAR/] into his own Bedchamber. The condition of the Atmosphere was such, as to make them all look about them; the first object that presented itself was a certain [\Vessel/] which the Potter having fashiond <P4> to dishonour, is usualy conceal'd under a Bed. on the table lay an old periwig, which lookd as if it had been the scalp of Tysiphone; on a chair, with the bellows for its companion, a rusty black [\wastecoat,/] dirty stocks, stray stockings, foul handerkerchiefs, in beautifull negligence were scatterd round the floor; but worst of worst, was a bason of water in which the Doctor, to put himself to appear before his Royal Guest, had wash'd his face & hands that morning. The unamiable & black Cocytus could not have furnish'd [\a\] liquid of such sad hue. It was dyed by the fogs of many Novembers, & the perspiration of the dog days, black with the winters smoke, embrownd with the dust of the Summers journeys, in short it was the foul collection of the revolving Seasons & various accidents of half a Century, for [\till/] that day, that fatal day, since he received infant baptism never had his face known the touch of water. You may imagine the Royal Dane, like his Predecessor Prince Hamlet, in dire [\amazement\] <P5> recoiling cry'd, angels & ministers of Grace defend us! & question_d much of the airs & blasts that saluted his Royal nostrils. I am sure M=rs= Handcock, who is all neatness, will hold her nose at this narration, but as it concern'd such extraordinary things as a King & a prodigy, I could not help communicating it. I wish some of the Doctors jocose Friends had put it into the news, that he was going to Denmark with his Majesty in the double capacity of (\Fou\) & physician. I believe the Northern coasts still keep (\un fou en titre d'office\) , I know no one so well qualified for the post as our Doctor, who has the largest portion of witt & jolly, parts & absurdity, of any man that ever existed. Pray when will Lady Anne Dawson return to us? M=r= Dawson & she will adorn even the [\UNCLEAR\] Room. I had tickets offer_d me for the grand Masquerade, but I did not care to leave M=r= Montagu as he was in precarious health <P6> for this last fortnight his cough has much abated, & he seems on the recovery, but winter is always pernicious to him. I have had my pretty little nephew with me all the Summer. it is the most joyous animal that ever lived, & has a wonderfull share of sense. Last night I had a note from M=r= & M=rs= Pulteney who were going to Bath, she is not well, which I am sure you will be sorry for, as they have shewn so much regard to M=rs= Carter. It is 45 ages since I have heard of the great Wilkes, or the late great Commoner, or any thing of Patriots past or present, or future Ministers. M=rs= Delany is at Bulstrode with the Duchess of Portland who has been out of health. Lord Ed=wd= Bentinck is ill. Lady Weymorth is soon to lye in, Lady Shelburne & her new born son thank God are very well. You need not fear my Dear Friend that I should make free with your letters; sooner w=d= an Epicures Alderman give to his <P7> Clerks & apprentices Callipash & Callipee, than I would, to vulgar taste, offer y=e= divine letters. I am truly sorry Count Zinzendorffe & M=r= Dangeau did not see [\you/] one Canto of the Sylpheid w=d= have been [\more/] worth than their whole Epick Poem. I am sure you grieved at the death of Lady Hervey, no one ever surely understood the difficult art, (\de viellir [\SIC\] de bonne grace\) so well. So much chearfulness without levity, always in Society, never in a Croud. As soon as you fix your return to London let me have the pleasure of knowing [\it/] . I love to have a date to my hopes. Pray tell M=r= Vesey not to be jealous of Count Zinzendorffe, for [\he is/] above 60 years short of the seducing age I believe it will be 40 years before even [\his\] french companion grows dangerous, in less time M=r= Vesey [\& I/] may bring our Romance to a conclusion, & yet make it as voluminously respectable as the Grand Cyrus. You may tell him now that <P8> (^I dont hate him^) , which is more than Mandane w=d= have said before her Lover had served her twenty years, & conquerd as many Kingdoms for her sake, but there is no keeping ones dignity in these modern days. Pray are not you rejoyced that M=r= Gray has got a peice of preferment worth 400=L= p=r= ann.? I wish you may bring M=r= [\Jeptison\] to England. I remember with great pleasure the agreable hours I pass_d in his company. My love & respects to M=rs= Hancock. I have already sent my love to M=r= Vesey under a proper veil. I am my Dear Madam with most sincere & tender affection Yours EMontagu