• Reference
    L30/13/28/6
  • Title
    Agneta, Lymington to Baroness Grantham Her son has written to her from the Madeira's. He has visited a nunnery and saw a Catholic mass. She is concerned that the company he has on board ship is unsuitable. Describes her recent sea voyages, including one to Southampton, which was hindered by the lack of wind, and rough seas on their return journey. Mr Montague awaited them on their return to Lymington. He was playing with a puppy, which bit him, and which later died of suspected case of distemper. The men sailed to Spithead and Portsmouth during Mr Montague's stay, however the weather was bad, and they were all sick. They returned over land from Portsmouth the next day. She also planned a voyage to circumnavigate Ireland. She set out from Lymington River in a cutter, called 'The Charlotta'. They rounded the Needles, but a gale blew against them, and the coastline was extremely rocky. They passed St. Catherine's, and weather began to clear as they passed Dun Nose and Culver cliffs. She was impressed by the coastline from Culver Cliffs to Cowes, commenting; "the whole of it, from the Needles, exhibited all the varieties of Rocks, caverns, cliffs, Mountains, vallies, woods and cultivation; intermixed with villages, churches, Farm Houses and Gentlemen's seats, some of them appearing to over hang precipices of Rock, and others bosomed in the finest Trees between the surrounding Mountains". As they rounded St. Helens point they had an impressive view of Portsmouth harbour, along the coast of Sussex and Hampshire. They dropped anchor at Cowes at 6pm, and they stayed at an inn overnight. The weather worsened, and they proceeded by coach next day to Yarmouth, through Newport. They crossed the channel at Yarmouth in the Pacquet, which took only 30 minutes, as the wind was extremely strong. Mentions she is leaving Lymington on 20 August, and is taking rooms in London.
  • Date free text
    2 Aug 1784
  • Production date
    From: 1784 To: 1784
  • Level of description
    item