BC_1769_EMONTAGU_EV_3

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<Q A 1769 TC EV EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
[}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO ELIZABETH VESEY. 1769 JUN 20. MO 6399?}]
<P1>
June y=e= 20=th= 69 My Dear Madam
   Your letter gave me great joy, we are often told, in verses & in prose, of the anxiety of the Merchant whose treasure is committed to the sport of winds & Waves; but I will hope for the honour of human nature, that a more tender anxiety is felt, a deeper recess of the heart feels palpitation when a Friend is to [\UNCLEAR\] the like hazard. However I know for my part, I never had any thing I valued so much at Sea before; even you were not so dear to me when you embarked the last time, for I know you better now, & have loved you longer, & tho I love as well as possible, I have now had experience enough of you to know I dont love you too well which is saying the handsomest thing I can ever say to you, tho as you do not know the extent of my
<P2>
affection you cannot understand the worth of this affirmation. I came to Town last [\WORD INTO Wensday\] . I found a strange alteration in the World. My friends were all in their rural retirement, the very streets seem deserted. I had ye pleasure of seeing M=r= Burke twice he was in good spirits very lovely & agreable but he, his friend L=d= Verney & S=r= Lawrence Dundass who had bought India stock for a time had sufferd grievously by the bad news or the apprehensions conceived at the news that came from India. L=d= Lyttelton came to Town on Saturday return'd again to Sunning monday. He seems well & thinks he has benefit from the waters but intends to set out for Hagley [\WORD DELETED\] [\next/] Monday sennight. My late fever has deterred me from going to ye North & I propose to go to Sunning to drink y=e= waters which resemble the Tunbridge waters which used to be of great service to me & many objections rise against Tunbridge. Ghosts of departed friends w=d= haunt me, M=r= West & L=d= Bath used to compose y=e=
<P3>
best part of my Society, they exist no longer, alas, M=r= Montagu's health is precarious, at Sunning I shall be near Sandleford, he says he will come & spend a few days with me, then I shall make excursions to return y=e= [\compliment\] to him at Sandleford. Which I can reach after drinking ye waters stay a day with him & then return to the salutary Well, & thus I shall help to amuse him & at ye same persue y=e= scheme of health. I want to tempt M=rs= Carter to Sunning but she listens only to y=e= voice of duty which she thinks whispers to her to make her Father ye best of plumb puddings on sundays & to manage the rest of his [\domestic\] concerns with careful economy y=e= rest of y=e= week. Our Ministers sit fast in their saddles tho through roughroad & some say very dirty. I hope what has been said of M=r= Lytteltons affronting a certain Lady is not true, he must be a Monster if he c=d= say any thing
<P4>
to shock amiable & modesty beauty compelld to put on a veil of mystery from the [\peculiarity\] of her situation. He denies he said any thing to her in particular, nor even knew her while mask'd. He was in ye charades of a Methodist Preacher, & so told all people they were in a sinful course according to ye cant of y=e= Fest, he protests he applied not to y=e= Lady however I affirm not how this was. Some deny & others affirm so one knows not what to think. Lady Primrose is very well, so is M=rs= Dunbar. The Pitts have been making little excursions & have been at Hagley but L=d= Lyttelton was at Sunning. it is vexatious that he will leave that place before I arrive Here comes M=r= Hume, Lady Marg=t= Macdonald, & I expect an [\etcetera\] of the few left in London. I shall write again soon I hope you got my letter with an account of my [\UNCLEAR\] quite well. My best comp=ts= to M=rs= Hancock & M=r= Vesey I am my Dear Madam
   Ever most affect=ly= y=rs=
   EMontagu