L30/9a/2

Volume 2 - Transcripts/extracts of correspondence of Jemima Yorke, (Marchioness Grey) sent to Lady Mary Gregory.

1748-1757

From: 1748 To: 1757

PAGE 1. Sugnall. Coventry a vile nasty city; but manufactures in ribbons and velvets; vast fortunes raised by it. Warwickshire enclosed, dirty, finely wooded. Lichfield cathedral stands high, very fine - you remember the siege of it in Lord Clarendon. Road to Stafford vastly beautiful, particularly about Rugeley and Wolseley Bridge, distant prospect of wooded hills. Family at Sugnall well. 30 July 1748. PAGE 3. Wrest. "We met Lord and Lady Anson at Mr Anson's as we proposed... it [this place] is very small, very neat and pretty. Imagine a little green spot with he house and a shrubbery by it filling up the middle; the Trent winding along one side of it, and a canal round two others which begins where the river turns off to a large bridge that makes a very good object, and where another stream joins it. In the canal is a Chinese house and a Chinese boat extremely pretty, and a green walk encompasses these with some scattered trees upon it, and your view cross the water is bounded everywhere by hills and woods at different distances. The house has some fine rooms lately added to it, and one exceedingly odd and pretty that is a library." Went hence to Lichfield, next day to Warwick. Kenilworth castle (long description); visit to Lord and Lady Brooke (details). Visit to Lord North's, a mile or two from Banbury. 4 September 1748. PAGE 11. Wimpole. "fame and praise the altar has gained this summer... made of flints and pebbles, 2 inscriptions, one (as somebody told Mr Yorke) few people can read, the other nobody can; one in old Greek, the other in strange "Persick" characters taken out of a book of travels; a very favourite spot with me; diversion from effect on strangers; generality stare and don't understand; some of greater penetration gone away highly edified as valuable learned antiquity. 14 September 1748. PAGE 13. Wimpole. Good description of Stourbridge fair. 20 September 1748. PAGE 16. London. New oratorio of Solomon. 18 March 1749. PAGE 16. London. Fireworks, seen from Lord Sundon's. 28 April 1749. PAGE 22. London. A masquerade. Party: Lady Anson, Miss Yorke, Miss Talbot; Mr Yorke, Mr Charles, Mr Heathcote, Mr Wray, Mr Anson, Monsieur le Chevalier St George - above 1,000 people. 3 May 1749. PAGE 26. About to leave for Wrest. Violin recital by Comte St Germain at Lord Morton's (much detail). 8 May 1749. PAGE 32. Wrest. Arrived through great heat. Came to look after workmen. New room begun; that part of the poor old house which has come down for this modern new-fangled thing to rise looks indeed a little ruinous. New walls stopped through delay in materials. "My poor closet on level with the ground and at present quite shut out of my own room and the parlour, so leve wholly on the library side. 14 May 1749. PAGE 34. London. Received 2 letters, scarcely in humour enough the morning after return to London to thank handsomely. Grievous to leave Wrest, ground covered with richest verdure, trees flourishing, flowers fragrant, birds harmonious. Could hear birds from every window. (Here a poor blackbird in a cage at a back window over stable-yard in Charles Street). Honeysuckles blow in such profusion that bushes are one entire flower, twine into branches of trees, hang in natural festoons - scent and look like an enchanted garden. Syringas opening in great quantities; roses not yet out, or no team of horses could have drawn to smoke and stinks of London. 26 May 1749. PAGE 31. - You ask if a mother can possibly rejoice in the marriage of her daughter. I think not, for I never was at any yet that it did not seem to me as a spectator only the most solemn frightful ceremony in the world, and that my heart did not sink into my shoes; and what must it do to one so much more nearly concerned as a mother? I have always believed that, was I one myself, tho' I am much disposed now to preach marrying in all families, yet I should never be able to resolve in disposing of a daughter.23 Jun 1749 PAGE 35. - "Mr Yorke" going to Paris with Mr Charles. "It seemed to me at a distance very strange and next to impossible, and though it is near I can hardly believe it." Now at Cambridge at Duke of Newcastle's installation. 1 July 1749. PAGE 37. Wimpole. News from Mr Yorke on journey, and arrival in Paris. 20 August 1749. PAGE 38. - Joy to be back in country after 6 months of London and winter. (Trees, flowers, honeysuckle, syringa) 'tis impossible for the mind not to feel some share in the universal share of delight that so peculiarly belongs to this season... Workmen not yet gone, not yet possession of new room; but old parlour has become a very pretty papered drawing-room. Got home to own rooms. Noise from 5-7. Little new closet will hold as many prints as old one that was larger. May 1750. PAGE 40 - Doesn't wonder that a tender mind should be affected with what relates to those it is concerned for; "but your spirits make it stronger with you than almost anybody, and every trifle that can befall the children appears in most alarming light... That composure of mind I so earnestly wish you that can wait for events (good or bad) till they come, and not run on to meet a misery at the utmost distance it can be descried, nay, which it is possible may not be on the way towards you... As Providence certainly gives us strength to support misfortunes, and sometimes is graciously pleased to add new happinesses to balance them, it is certainly our duty to keep up to the highest of our power a cheerful as well as a resigned spirit; and not to lose the enjoyment of present blessings because we have known past griefs, and much less through the fear of future ones. Pardon dull lecture... my own heart is full of whatever affects yours. 30 May 1750. PAGE 43. Barnacles have laid 4 eggs, hatched 2, those dead, so have still only 6. But have some sheldrakes or burrough ducks sent by Lord Willoughby; also reclaiming roving dispositions of peacocks. Terrible was not to be paralleled and has no successor. Cats well. No cascades; but the common fall of water which all the canals have at their sluice is seen under bridge and runs into large "conque-shell", 2-3 ft wide placed to receive it. Bank each side covered with flints and stones, some willows stuck in if they will be pleased to grow. Rambler: style inclines to bombast; may discontinue; but she could borrow from Cuddesdon; make Miss Talbot lend also new fairy tales. 12 June 1749. PAGE 46. Wrest. Tour began with dinner at Cambridge; next day to Bury. saw Abbey ruins; Yarmouth; Norwich; Walpole's; Lord Townsend's; Houghton (Lord Orford); Sir Andrew Fountain's. [detailed account of East Anglian tour]. 31 July 1750. PAGE 57. - Lauder's book on Milton. November 1750. PAGE 59. "I have always had the fullest conviction that whatever Providence directed for me was best, and have never suffered myself to wish for anything but the continuation of blessings it had bestowed upon me." 13 December 1750. PAGE 61. Wrest. Little niece an excellent traveller; no objections to coach, never cried the whole time, nor caught cold. Utmost gratitude for accumulated blessings I have enjoyed at this place, and this last so absolutely unexpected. I never allowed myself to wish for new blessings, but I think it is being undeserving of them not to feel the joys that are given to me, and I certainly never did feel them stronger than upon my arrival here, where so many old ideas presented themselves at once. Prays Heaven severer trials not pending, not depending too much on happiness, knows well its precariousness and own want of merit. 27 June 1751. PAGE 63. - She is well, generally good humoured, grows, has very considerable double chin; she stares and wonders, but has not expressed approbation or dislike to many objects. 2pp. suggestions for historical reading. 23 JulY 1751. PAGE 68. - Succession of visitors. 1751 PAGE 70. Wimpole. Visitors. French news. Colonel Yorke going to Hague. 17 September 1751. PAGE 73. - Have packed off little girl, house dull and empty; hate breaking up family, but thinks Scarborough party should be pleasant (Lord and Lady Anson, Mr Anson, Mr John Yorke). 18 June 1752. PAGE 75. Scarborough. Stayed 2 days with Heathcotes. House in middle of bay. Fire at Lincoln's inn, Mr Charles barely escaped. 30 June 1752. PAGE 77. Scarborough. Country round. How spend time. 10 July 1752. PAGE 80 - Visit to Castle Howard. 29 July 1752. PAGE 82. Wimpole. Congratulations on children's recovery from inoculation. My girl has never been the same child since she had the smallpox. I should not have known her face again after she recovered. Death of Bishop of Gloucester (Benson). Friends at Cuddesdon long deceived themselves; greatest stroke they could have received; Bishop of Oxford will bear it as he has done everything else, but at his time of life such a loss is quite irreparable (happy Mrs Secker did not live to see it). Cheerless evenings at St Paul's, wanting companion that used to bring delight, goodness, harmony; How greatly that little society changed, sadly broke to pieces since we first knew them. 20 September 1752. PAGE 85. Wimpole. Glad little folks go on well, so little altered. The 11 days. Friends at Cuddesdon, London dismal at this time. Girl - such a number of playfellows here turn her little head. 26 September 1752. PAGE 87. London. Nothing but going to court. Politics. 1 December 1752. PAGE 89. London. Never was so fond as some of the Rambler; likes new paper, the Adventurer and the World. February 1753. PAGE 90. Sends Adventurer - inclined to grow dull. 10 February 1753. PAGE 93. Papers. 24 February 1753. PAGE 94. New play, Earl of Essex, poor. 24 February 1753. PAGE 97. Wrest. Sorry Miss Talbot looks ill, believes grieving for Duchess of Somerset(Frances Seymour). Visitors, including Mr Pitt (came with Mr Potter), so unthought-of, seemed dropped from clouds. 17 July 1754. PAGE 99. Count Ponistowski (afterwards last king of Poland) devoid of all taste for country. Didn't worry about his view of gardens; nor did about party of Pitt (knew there taste would abound to excess). The latter were civil, talked of "a fine place", "seat-like", (which I take to be the most derogatory of all phrases) but Mr Pitt was not warmed into the sublime; however I believe they did like the hill. Mr Grenville since here with Mr Potter again, half-drowned in garden in hardest showers. 25 July 1754. Dr Birch now here, brought observations of Lord Ossory's account of Swift; delighted with it - solemn pompous absurdity of each not to be equalled. PAGE 102. - Weather. Playful rally. Amusing description of a Mistress Masters staying at Southill. 4 August 1754. PAGE 106. - A solitary week, fears that she will become a leek or a parsnip. My lord gone to Cambridgeshire, thence Norfolk. I will not pay my girl so ill a compliment as to say quite alone, since her spirits help enliven house, as she is seldom still or silent in it; not a little obliged to her. Pavillion new painted and fitted up, its closets all done since I came down. Instead of old gilt leather, which never could have had beauty and now no colour, they are hung with paper each in a different manner; extremely pretty. Girl happiest creature; adorned her own room with pictures made out of scraps of papers. 11 August 1754. PAGE 109. Wrest. Sorry for her uneasiness and anxiety. [usual good advice] Setting out tomorrow for Mr Heathcote's for 1½ days, then Edinburgh. Have sent child away, want her very much; papa almost broke heart to part with her, though she is happy to go; what a happy age when every change delights! 6 July 1755. PAGE 111. Taymouth. Hopes 2 long packets received, please send on to Miss Talbot. Weather bad. Description of house and surroundings (long). August 1755. PAGE 115. Taymouth. An expedition. 20 August 1755. PAGE 117.Taymouth. Party of 15-20. Rain. 1 September 1755. PAGE 118. Wimpole. Journey back. 5 October 1755. PAGE 119. London. A Mr W Waterman, grandson of a Dr Grey in Wiltshire. 8 July 1756. PAGE 122 . Shall be thankful for return of health for my lord; many months in such situation would be very grievous. War news. 16 July 1756. PAGE 124. War news. 24 July 1756. PAGE 127. Byng. Foreign news. 5 August 1756. PAGE 130. Lambeth. "sounds magnificently". Children spend day with us, and very happy, but not room to lodge. 14 August 1756. PAGE 132. Public affairs. 20 August 1756. PAGE 134. Life of Madame Maintenon. 28 August 1756. PAGE 136. Lambeth. Public news. 6 September 1756. PAGE 139. Lady Capell - birth of monkey at Tower. 29 September. PAGE 140. One of the prettiest I ever saw a little place of Mr Horry Walpole's at Twickenham, in the Gothic style, as perfect in its kind as Mr Bateman's in Chinese, pleased me better; painted glass peculiarly odd and pretty; small garden. (from Richmond).14 Oct 1756 PAGE 143. Moor Park. Politics. 23 October 1756. PAGE 145. Enjoyed Moor Park. Politics. Byng. 27 October 1756. PAGE 148. Richmond. Politics. 5 November 1756. PAGE 153. St James' Square. Politics. 12 November 1756. PAGE 158. Politics. 18 November 1756. PAGE 160. Music, opera, play. 26 November 1756. PAGE 162. Politics. The town says the Duke of Bedford is to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. I don't understand the wheels within wheels, but as he and Duke of D-re are undoubtedly led in everything by Mr F one must suppose he thinks it most for his own interest that his friends should fill those great offices and that it will rather distress than strengthen his adversary. Byng. War news. Lord Hardwicke seems to have felt change least; 9 December 1756. Tho' I expected everything wise and great from his turn of mind, I hardly thought anybody could have quitted a high station and changed a life of great business which has grown into a fixed habit for one of great leisure with such thorough ease and cheerfulness' Seems very happy in his liberty. Has dined about with his family and visited like idle man, was at concert here, in as good spirits as ever. Satisfaction of finding regard formerly shown him was not paid singly to his place; never so much complimented as since he resigned. But King did not know him in a common coat and wig; amused himself; told Lord H same day in drawing room that having been used 30 years to see him in different dress, had not least knowledge of him. PAGE 169 . Politics. Byng. Opers, play. 18 December 1756. PAGE 173. Byng. 4 January 1757. PAGE 175. Frost. The trial. 8 January 1757. PAGE 178. Snow. Scarcity likely soon. War news. 18 January 1757.

Published microfilm available in the searchroom as Mic 298.

Published as a microfilm by academic publishers Adam Matthew. A digital edition is being planned by the same publisher.

item

Clarendon,
Anson,
North,
Yorke,
Sundon, Lord,
Talbot,
Heathcote,
Charles,
Wray,
Le Chevalier,
Comte de Saint Germain,
Morton,
Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of,
Willoughby,
Walpole,
Townsend,
Orford,
Fountain,
Lauder,
Milton,
Yorke, John,
Benson, Martin,
Secker,
Essex, William Anne Capell, 4th Earl of,
Seymour, Frances,
Pitt,
Potter,
Poniatowski,
Grenville,
Birch,
Orrery,
Waterman,
Grey,
Byng,
Maintenon,
Capell, Mary,
Walpole,
Bateman,
Russell, John (4th Duke of Bedford),
Hardwicke

CORRESPONDENCE, Coventry, ribbons, Warwickshire, Litchfield, Shugborough, Wrest Park, Kenilworth Castle, Warwick, Stourbridge, fairs, fireworks, CELEBRATIONS AND COMMEMORATIONS FESTIVALS, violin, Wrest Park Gardens, France, Lincolns Inn, FIRE, Scarborough, smallpox, inoculation, DEATH, Bishop of Gloucester, POLITICS, Taymouth, WARS & TREATIES, monkeys, Twickenham, plays, opera, weather