L30/9a/5

Volume 5 - Transcripts/extracts of correspondence of Jemima Yorke, (Marchioness Grey) sent to Miss Catherine Talbot.

1747-1750

From: 1747 To: 1750

PAGE 2. Wrest. Politics. 18 June 1747. PAGE 3. Wrest. Books - Peru etc. June 1747. PAGE 6. St James' Square. News from Flanders. Colonel Yorke's escape. 11 July 1747. PAGE 9. Wrest. Mr Yorke (last letter said he was at Wimpole) does not seem disposed for new excursions, but something offended at her ideas of election entertainments; gentlemen-freeholders too genteel to be content with ale; wine and punch the largest share. 23 July 1747. PAGE 11. Browne, Britannia's Pastorals - found in library - some pretty lines. 30 July 1747. PAGE 12. Thanks for last packet. 20 August 1747. PAGE 15. Cavalier's Memoirs. August 1748(?) PAGE 17. Wimpole. Lord Chancellor kept in town by bad news from Bergen, otherwise family all together, except poor Colonel. Foreign news. 17 September 1747. PAGE 23. Wimpole. Foreign news. 1 October 1747. PAGE 26. Wimpole. Foreign news. October 1747. PAGE 28. Wrest. Back in old house and old ideas, which divide themselves naturally under own room, library and garden, only 1 month to enjoy. Life of Colonel Gardiner. 13 October 1747. PAGE 31. Duc de Guise's memoirs. 22 October 1747. PAGE 36. Dr Doddridge's book. 29 October 1747. PAGE 39. Monody. 14 November 1747. PAGE 41. Opera. 21 November 1747. PAGE 42. Sending Town eclogues by Bishop of Oxford and expects in return the country eclogues; also sending new novel by author of Pamela. Like Celia "a play that you remember our reading some years ago, and by the way I met with it this summer and cried as heartily over it again as we three and the kittens did in your dining-room". Comments on book. Notwithstanding all the faults a juster critic might find, a Pamela or a Clarissa for my reading, and as much more of the latter as Mr Richardson pleases. 28 November 1747. PAGE 47. Glad she likes Clarissa. More discussions of Richardson, (long). 12 December 1747. PAGE 53. Books. 19 December 1747. PAGE 57. Play - Henry V, remembers our reading it with much pleasure at Wrest the 1st or 2nd time you were there (1739 I believe), and seeing it together in town. 26 December 1747. PAGE 59. Bursting with proposed engagement between Elizabeth Yorke and Admiral Anson. (Could not keep her own secret almost 8 years ago but was forced to tell her, so who can expect I should be more reserved for them?) Consent on all sides, not enough concluded to be talked of; advantageous in fortune for her; from his constant good character likely to prove very happy; family much pleasure; she looks very gay and in good spirits; difference in age (about 20 years). January 1748. PAGE 62. Catherine Talbot does not approve age difference. Change a short time makes - always thought of Lord Anson as of good sense and usefulness to public, but of more importance when joined with his power to make a friend happy. 16 January 1748. PAGE 65. Two poems Catherine Talbot recommended (not clear what). 30 January 1748. PAGE 66. Not yet got through Roderic Random, most characters abominably bad. [Note by Amabel that Mrs Secker died spring 1748]. 6 February 1748. PAGE 68. Wrest. Good wishes for journey. "Honeysuckles surround the stems of almost all our trees and creep about through the thickest underwood, hanging in finer festoons than art could imitate among the bushes." Ought to be a painting party, Lady Anson, Miss Carpenter and Catherine Talbot. Ideal plan (very ideal employment) should be to have all my friends, all those I am really happier by seeing, meet in this place in such a season in full ease and leisure and disposed to enjoy each other. Knows nothing that so naturally gives composure and cheerfulness as these quiet country scenes. 2 June 1748. PAGE 73. Expedition to Stowe (details). [Duke of Buckingham?]; then Easton and Althorp (favourite). 30 June 1748. PAGE 79. Eclipse of sun, all morning in library, had breakfast there, smoked glass in one hand and bread and butter in other; camera obscura set out in next room, telescope in window by me (too cloudy), myself upon 1 foot ready to run up to the leads as occasion offered. Heard of this all life... shabby common eclipse not much better than 1 or 2 others within memory. Book - Voyage (Anson?) 14 July 1748. PAGE 84. Wrest. Lettres Peruviennes, absurd and improbable. New erected altar, dedicated by Cleander to Mithras, Dr Bentley's improvements on one side, old Persic language from drawings of ruins of Persepolis on other. First day up, 2 gentlemen from Cambridge (details). 21 July 1748. PAGE 90. Sugnall. If living out of London, does not care for Northamptonshire, would recommend Warwickshire or Staffordshire. Not Coventry "vilest nasty place I ever saw". Description of house and garden; famous Wrekin. 30 July 1748. PAGE 95. Sugnall. Country enclosed, hilly, wild. Most romantic place gentleman's park visited recently on side of hill, high craggy rocks, narrow winding valley, amazing prospect, entire horizon in view, Welsh mountains (name not given). 13 August 1748. PAGE 98. Wrest. Not able to take in Cuddesdon on return journey."Mr Anson's is a very pretty place and has in a mighty small compass all the beauties that fine green meadows, with the Trent winding round them, and a very pleasing prospect of woods and hills can give. The house he has made a mighty good one by adding some fine rooms, and fitting up the whole with the greatest elegance. And he has built in a canal (that by joining to the River incloses him almost in an island) the prettiest Chinese Building I have seen. You will guess that I left" family at Sugnall with concern; journey pleasant. 28 August 1748. PAGE 99. - Further details of return journey; Kenilworth castle; Warwick castle. Breakfasted at Lord North's place (description);now must dress for company. 1 September 1748. PAGE 104. Wimpole. Excursion to Stourbridge fair; poor Lord Chancellor left alone in solitary house; proceeded in morning to dine at Cambridge and mile or two further after dinner to fair (details). Agrees with estimate of Clarissa (details). 15 September 1748. PAGE 109. Wimpole. Mr Thompson's death a loss; but his indolence. Two Chinese missionaries, introduced by Mr Wray; one a Bishop there 30 years; explained Chinese characters on our drawings. Has also met the Governor of Peru, Don Pedro Maldonado. 22 September 1748. PAGE 113. Wimpole. Windows open and no fire. Was there ever so fine a season? Rejoicing in it for my walks and your rides. Catherine Talbot's visit to Sherbourne. Lord and Lady Anson coming Monday. What a pity it is the Colonel is not here that the family might have been all together, and with the addition that I truly think so agreeable, Lord Anson's company. Cannot be more delightful a scene than looking round on such a family, nor can one form an idea of happiness beyond what Lord Chancellor and Lady Hardwicke must feel when they are all about them. 29 September 1748. PAGE 116. Wimpole. Catherine Talbot's visit to Sherbourne. 6 October 1748. PAGE 117. Wrest. Freezing by my fireside - change from mildest autumn to very severe winter; must bid adieu to sitting under shady elms upon grass plots; but as walking is best way to be warm, and walks now must be confined to morning or at least much shortened after dinner, I design to regulate length of letters by that consideration, and get out as soon as can. I am called upon too to visit my workmen at the Serpentine canal who are adding to its meanders and improving it very much. It is at present the great object of my attention. PY, Philip Yorke? desires to know Bishop's opinion of Mr Bower's first volume. 13 October 1748. PAGE 119 . We have all been out this morning consulting over Roothouses and fixing a proper spot for a habitation of the priest of Mithras. It is really a very retired pretty quiet place, and I begin already to want you to see it. 1 November 1748. PAGE 121. Wrest. Got back 2 o'clock Saturday. Heat - spent a great deal of compassion on poor creatures panting for breath in London. Feel settled as if come to spend summer instead of 1 week; have been out a good while each morning and evening with a book (if I was alone), or contemplating the new bridge and the new-turned canal (which answers a merveille) or treading upon the foundations and stepping over the rising walls of the great room. Company agreeably increased. Ladies in library settling pattern of a shoe - Lady Anson says will be the most ingenious and most perfect ever designed. 18 May 1749. PAGE 125. London. Various London events - jubilee masquerade, bal manque, (rather obscure). 3 June 1749. PAGE 128 . - Garters. 1 July 1749. PAGE 130. - Lord Carpenter has violent fever. PY (Philip Yorke?) sets out, alas! (For I don't like the thoughts of it) the end of next week and Mr Charles with him to Holland for short time, thence through Flanders, where they part: Mr Charles turns course to Spa to drink waters; PY to Paris; when season over I suppose will meet again there, but how long they stay I had rather not enquire. July 1749. PAGE 132. Wrest. Mr Wray and Mr Edwards came Saturday. This place the very busiest you can imagine, all kinds of business, all kinds of materials from brick and stone, with which the new room is slowly rising, to roots and faggots that compose a house erecting in the garden under Mr Edward's direction, who has great fame in the world as a wooden Inigo. It is placed near the altar at one end of the grove that stands in, and will look very rustic and suitably to the ancient Persic simplicity. Or should you rather suppose it a British work you would not quarrel with it for that, I hope, if it does but agree with the plain and solemn appearance of the whole place. (Causes great disputes in country whether designed for barn or woodstack) I think I must get an Eolus' harp to hang up among the trees, it will really do vastly well; never heard, but great curiosity to hear; designed bringing one from town , but could not find one of suitable size. Mr Wray brought new poem by Mr Potter. Alas! all spirit and ingenuity is fled from Wrest, we can build Hermitages as the dwellings best fitted to our dispositions but we cannot find a muse or grace left; have tried in vain to persuade Mr Edwards to write sonnet for blank leaf of my present, Clarissa. Heard 3 times from PY; now on read, is to stop at Antwerp, Brussels; seems to think Holland unpleasant, but pleased with neatness and prettiness of Hague and greater magnificence of Amsterdam; thought poorly of Leyden. 3 August 1749. PAGE 137. Bath. Write by 1st opportunity to Cuddesdon, though thoughts and wishes have not quitted it, though person unwillingly whirled away yesterday. Thanks to my lord for his goodness in allowing me to be so long a troublesome inhabitant in his house - happy fortnight, misses her company. Account of journey - road bad, progress so slow, had either to sleep or read in one morning all books provided for Bath. Marlborough. Lodgings. "I am sitting at my window and have seen the sunset gild the rising hills before me, and the river just below the house; and now Jupiter is looking in upon me as he used to do in the parlour at Cuddesdon. Have been drinking many years of health and happiness in a dish of tea to a friend of ours. If you can inform him of it, you have nothing farther to add..". September 1749. PAGE 143. Bath. 4 days longest I have ever passed. At home one never wants employment, though one should want company. Here nothing to do but read. Seated in a great chair by fireside (North East corner), room neat and square with windows on 2 sides; on 1 side runs the parade, a broad raised flat walk with a stone balustrade that lies before this new row of houses of which that I am in is the last, (more details). 24 September 1749. PAGE 149. Bathing. (?) PAGE 149. Bath. Lady Anson and Lord arrived - in ill humour. Lord Anson left next morning. Summoned all resolution and went forth to drink tea; 2 solitary parties and Mr Nash. Yesterday Lady Halifax called to take to rooms; joined by Mr Cambridge. P.S. by Lady Anson: "I seal this letter in order to set my seal to all she has said or can say about my ill humour". 3 October 1749. PAGE 153. Bath. Your friendship one of dearest blessings; looks back in gratitude to its beginning; rejoices that such connections not confined with family acquaintance, but minds free to choose, and that ours was so early led by Providence to form an attachment that will last with our lives. You are by far too partial to me Could I set the favourable picture you draw in its true light, it would lose considerably. Pere Bourdaloue. Her advice on Bath. Unless people wore names on sleeves and thoughts on heads, one wouldn't know where to begin to make acquaintance. They read, work, write letters, see people if they call. A raffle at Mrs Sophy Duncombe's. 12 October 1749. PAGE 158. Bath. PY came yesterday with Lord Anson; very well after travels. Talks about French opera, Comedie, friends, has 2 wigs coming over from Paris. Change in way of living. From staying at home to receive and read Davila, they have racketed us abroad all day; trapesing about after true Bath fashion, first to pump, then home to breakfast, next round parades, then to see pictures, so to pump again, this evening to rooms. Looking forward to leaving Bath. 21 October 1749. PAGE 163. Wrest. (Catherine Talbot has just visited; return of coach brought letter from Aylesbury; desires 2nd from Cuddesdon). Hopes she was not tired. "great hopes when you fell in with the gallant band in Woburn Park that some adventure must ensue. Hours passed idly, walking with book in pocket; conversing with various sorts of garden people, setting some papers to rights within doors filled yesterday morning; this morning since church have been enjoying the green walks Catherine Talbot's favourites." 27 May 1750. PAGE 166. Wrest. Has for some hours in morning attended bricklayer and carpenter at bridge. Books arrived. The Fairies (Feeries Nouvelles, Comte de Caylus?) have walked in my pocket to the serpentine, but not made great progress. PY has turned over the volumes quicker and seem to rank them with Mother Goose. 31 May 1750. PAGE 168. Wrest. Does not like the Rambler. Is told there is no doubt of author being Johnson (details). 21 June 1750. PAGE 170 . - (A very charming verdict against the Rambler, apparently a view of PY). 28 June 1750. PAGE 176. - A Dutch view of Rambler, (brief). 5 July 1750.

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

Talbot, Catherine,
Campbell, Jemima,
Grey, Marchioness,
Yorke,
Gardiner,
de Guise,
Doddridge,
Secker, Thomas,
Richardson,
Yorke, Elizabeth,
Anson,
Anson, George,
Secker,
Carpenter,
Bentley,
North,
Thompson,
Wray,
Maldonado, Pedro,
Hardwicke,
Bower,
Charles,
Edwards,
Potter,
Nash,
Halifax,
Cambridge,
Duncombe, Sophy,
Johnson

CORRESPONDENCE, POLITICS, books, Flanders, operas, plays, DEATH, Wrest Park, Wrest Park Gardens, gardens, weather, Bath