BC_1771_EMONTAGU_MA_1
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<Q A 1771? FN MA EMONTAGU> <X ELIZABETH MONTAGU> [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO MARY ROBINSON. JAN 10 1771? BL ADD. 40663. F. 21}] <P1> Friday ye 10 Jan [\ADDED? 1771\] Dear Madam I wish I could thank you for your letter in as fair characters as my Neice returnd hers for the books. I have ostentatiously shew=d= her letter to many of my Friends. My Sister & I have not let my Brother share in the honour, for we confess, no Robinson ever wrote so well, so that she inherits this with many other good things, from her Mama. If she can compose a Sermon as well as her Father, & writes it in her own hand, it will retrieve the honour of Manuscripts [\Sermons/] which of late years have sold cheaper than even any other second hand goods. The Gentleman to whom my letter was deliverd at Paris in September, loiterd somewhere on the road till ye latter end of october, but on <P2> his arrival put the letters into ye post, the letters to [\BLOT\] [\you\] which should have preceded my coming follow'd me. The Town is very empty, & I know not how we who are here contrive to be as much engaged as at other seasons. The Bath has been very full of Persons of distinction. Lord Villiers (the Prince of Maccaronies) gave [\a few days ago/] a Play in a Barn. He acted L=d= Townly, Miss Hodges Lady Townly. I suppose the merit of this entertainment was, that people were to go many miles in frost & snow to see in a Barn, what w=d= have been every way better at the Theaters in Drury Lane or Covent Garden. There was a ball also prepared after ye play, but the Barn had much benumbed the vivacity of ye company, & the Beaux feet were so cold, & the noses of the Belles were so blue, many retired to a warm bed at the Inn at Henley instead of partaking of the Dance. M=r= Le Texier acted Rousseau's Pigmalion <P3> and Miss Hodges the Statue. Modern Nymphs are so warm & yielding, that less art than than [\SIC\] that of M=r= le Texier might have animated the Nymph. I hope my Neices will never stand still to be made love to before a numerous audience. Miss Hodges Father is lately dead, her Mother is dying. How many indecorums the girl has brought together into one petite piece! I dare not send you any publick news as my Brothers are engaged to the Congress & American independency. I think the fine World goes on as usual at this time of the year. Caractacus has succeeded very well on the stage, tho it is more calculated for the Study than the Theater. Our french Ambassador pleases all people of sense by his conversation & manners, by his splendor of living, & polite attentions at table, he charms ye great vulgar, so that <P4> he is in general esteem, & indeed deserves to be so. He dined with me ye other day, & I am to dine with him on Sunday. Mad=me= de Noailles cannot come to us till she is brought to bed. She is extreamly sensible & agreable. L=d= Granby very thoughtlessly carried his Lady to Brussels on a jaunt of amusement soon after she was brought to bed, & by getting cold she has been most dangerously ill. She is much better, but ye Duchess Dowager is so uneasy about her, I am afraid we shall not be able to disswade her from going to Brussels, tho this weather makes Sea Voyages, & indeed Land journeys, very terrible. I hope if my Brother Robinson goes to Bath he will let us enjoy his company in Town for a few days. My Sister has taken a pretty House near Cavendish Square. All our family is in health. My Nephew Montagu is to go to Harrow on tuesday I suppose you know Miss Arnold is at Bath. D=r= de la Cour is in great request at Bath. <P5> I desire my best comp=ts= to your Consort. My Brother Charles told me ye good folks in Kent were angry with me for making a Justice of Peace of D=r= Pennington, but indeed I never heard the Doctor had an ambition to be of ye Worshipfull Quorum till my Brother mentioned it. As it is not Greek & Hebrew, but Lands & Tenements & such solid property, which give a title to be a Justice of Peace, I sh=d= not have any way assisted y=e= Doctors project if I had had it in my power I am so far from being a favorer of ye Alliance of Church & State I think ye farther they [\UNCLEAR\] a Sunder ye better. A two edged sword is a terrible weapon. My best wishes attend all y=r= fireside, may every new year bring new felicities to you & emprove those of which you are already in possession. I am Dear Madam your most affection=te= Sister & Sincere friend EMontagu I have sent you an epitaphe on ye King of Prussia