L30/9a/7

Volume 7 - Transcripts/extracts of correspondence of Jemima Yorke, (Marchioness Grey) sent to Miss Catherine Talbot.

1755-1760

From: 1755 To: 1760

PAGE 1. Mount Ararat. I removed last Saturday to place with this pompous date, which would not appear half so well by its common name of Richmond - of such importance are sounds, and have been inhabitant of Mr Wray's house a week. Ansons dined here. Bad weather. 17 May 1755. PAGE 2. London. No news, not even yet of Mr Charles Yorke's wedding - married Monday morning, spent day at Mrs Freeman's at Acton, next day to Moor Park. Lord Chancellor stayed in town for wedding; Lord Royston not wanted and returned to Richmond. Mr Heathcote and Lady Margaret went to Moor Park Wednesday. 23 May 1755. PAGE 5. London. Agreeable party at Moor Park, bride and groom, Heathcotes, the Jenyns, Colonel Sotheby. Much pleased with new sister, engaging, sweet-tempered, innocence, naivete, natural cheerfulness, artless ease and good humour, attentive to others, not embarrassed among strangers. Erratum: at wedding only Mrs Freeman and Dr Freeman on lady's side, Lord Chancellor on gent's; Lady Hardwicke not there. very private. Lord Chancellor signed register at St George's church. clerk said "My Lord, 5 weddings here already this morning before you came - the best bill my Lord that ever was passed" It did not a little divert the person it was addressed to. news of fleet. 31 May 1755. PAGE 8. Wrest. Showers on journey, evening sun, set in gloom that made birds sing and brought out scent of flowers. Next day a thunderstorm; lightning ran along the tops of the hills and shot through thick range of clouds; walked to bottom of garden late in evening, but found it more prudent to return quickly, thunder beginning to growl and real storm gathering, which soon after I got home poured down as hard rain as I have ever heard. 15 June 1755. PAGE 10. Wrest. Weather. Politics. 26 June 1755. PAGE 13. Wrest. PY (Philip Yorke?) and Jemima? on visit to "the Pole". Shall dispatch girl tomorrow to Powis House; Lady Hardwicke was so good as to offer to take her, and she is happy beyond expression to leave the country, Papa, Mama and everybody in the thoughts of living with Grandmama. Going by chaise. Lord Anson says he is sure we think of journey to Scotland as of one to Japan. 3 July 1755. PAGE 15. Journal of Northern tour. Set out Monday 7 July, large store of books, workbag, tea canister; stayed till Wednesday with Heathcotes; then Newark; Thursday 10th Ferrybridge; Friday 11th Ripon, in evening went to Mr Aislabie's. Studley Park. (details). Fountains. Darlington. Durham. Lumley castle. Newcastle. Monday 14th Alnwick. Tuesday Berwick. Edinburgh. Taymouth, Monday 28th. Leith. Found friends at Taymouth well. PAGE 54. Taymouth. 6 August. PAGE 57. Taymouth. 15 August. PAGE 66. Taymouth. 22 August. PAGE 69. Taymouth. 1 September. PAGE 77. Edinburgh. (news from America). 13 September. PAGE 82. Wimpole. (about journey). 7 October 1755. PAGE 89. Wimpole. War news. The Scot's speech. 15 October 1755. PAGE 92. St James' Square. Enclosed list of speakers in House of Commons for Bishop 15 November 1755. PAGE 96. London. Lisbon earthquake. (long account). 29 November 1755. PAGE 104. St James' Square. Week since you left, and no word. Weather. Children are both (that is a word that strikes me, having never had occasion to write it before) I thank God - perfectly well. War. 6 May 1756. PAGE 110. - War. Memoirs of Madame de Maintenon. 15 May 1756. PAGE 116. - War. Politics. 22 May 1756. PAGE 119. - Militia bill. 29 May 1756. PAGE 121. London. War. Byng. (very long). 5 June 1756. PAGE 130 . - War. 12 June 1756. PAGE 136. - War. 16 or 17 June 1756. PAGE 139 . - War. Maintenon. Copy of letter from Barcelona consul. 19 June 1756. PAGE 146. - Byng. "My Lord continues much as he was". 26 June 1756. PAGE 154. London. War. 3 July 1756. PAGE 158 .- War. 17 July 1756. PAGE 163. - Politics. Sorry Bishop of Oxford has approaches to gout. Family will want health to support change from Cuddesdon to London. War. 24 July 1756. PAGE 166. Lambeth. I thank God my Lord has been a great deal better this week. The wound has for some days been quite healed, and the faculty hope it is likely to continue so. We begin to talk again of Richmond, but so often mistaken, it will be some time before I can think myself secure. War. 12 September 1756. PAGE 168. Richmond. War. 9 October 1756. PAGE 172 - War. 16 October 1756. PAGE 178. Moor Park. Beauty of this place. Politics. 22 October 1756. PAGE 182. Richmond. Politics. 30 October 1756. PAGE 184. Richmond. Politics. 5 November 1756. PAGE 190. London. Though Wednesday was particularly fine & bright, I never saw fewer gay Countenances joined to Birthday Finery. The Goers-out ought to look decently grave (though indeed not sorrowful) the Comers-in look perplexed & puzzled, & those whose schemes have (as yet) least succeeded, look gloomy & Black as night – And this I take to be the Compostion of all public places at present. For new Facts – the Duke of Newcastle quitted the Treasury upon Thursday last, & the Duke of Devonshire has kissed hands for it. The former it is said absolutely refused all Pensions or Gratuities but is to be created a new Duke of Newcastle (upon Lyne instead of Tyne to descend to Lord Lincoln. Sir G Lyttleton is also to have a Peerage. The new Boards of Tr & Ad:ty I am not yet perfect in, as the Reports have varied every Day but the new Commission for the Ad:ty is to be out I hear upon Monday, & the Board is swept clean of all but Boscawen [?]. The new Undertakers not only made a point of removing the Head of it, & taking the Management into their own hands (which they can known no more how to execute than you or I should do & that in the midst of a Sea-War) but Lord T: has chose even to displace Mr Cleveland who has carried on the Business as Secretary for so many years, to put in some Underling of this Own who cannot possibly know the Common forms of Business. Most people who come new & unprepared into an Office have always availed themselves of the experience of the inferior Officers, & in few instances have they ever been removed. But great geniuses are self-taught & want no assistance. – I wish the Earl joy of his Post since he likes it, but I should not envy it him. As to our Friend, I am naturally inclined to like the Stoutness & the Noble Sullenness you suppose in him, but I am persuaded he has carried his dislike to an argument too far. I fancy he is not without some resentment at present, & I have a notion (though I don’t know it) that the finding his removal made once of the necessary Terms of Acceptance of this new set all of whom flatter’d him last Year & One of whom Mr L: has always been his professed intimate friend; and that under pretence of unpopularity (which is not true) as hurt him more; as perhaps he might think they would have been wiser than they have proved, & left him at liberty to Act with them or not. But this is only a surmise between you & me. They say Mr F does jetter feu & flame against the Duke of Devonshire for having quitted him when he was his chosen ambassador & having given his name to the List of the Enemy. But there are who suppose that the minister still acts with a view of bringing them round to his Principal, & that their having so boldly undertaken everything, shared all the spoils among themselves & becoming answerable for all Events in all Departments, must necessarily raise them so many enemies & so many perplexities, as must drive them into the hands of the other. In the meanwhile he is still in Office: the Gout having insolently laid its paw upon Mr P in the Country, which is an unheard of attempt at this time when he has so many affairs to settle. Lord Chancellor resigns next Week & it is supposed the Great Seal is to be in Commission. I never saw him in better Health, Ease & Spirits: and so is Lady Hardwicke. I have just heard that Mr F quits his Place Today. I am to dine at Powis house it being called a family Leave-taking dinner of the Chancellor, though my Lord is prevented going by a bad cold & I am as stupid as the Foggy Day. Adieu. 13 November 1756. PAGE 195. - Lord Hardwicke resigned the great seal yesterday, and seems as happy to be rid of it as many would be to obtain it. After he had gone through his forms of leave-taking at court, he came about visiting his family, and I never saw him at any time more easy and vacant in his mind, though I am persuaded he felt concern in the closet, where I believe he is very sincerely regretted; nor did anybody the last day he sat in Chancery possess themselves so well (I am told) or seem so unmoved as himself. I hardly expected even he (whom I expected everything great and wise from) could have quitted a life of business and a high station with such thorough ease and cheerfulness. He acted up to his own honour and dignity, and I heartily hope will feel the happiness and benefit of leisure. He has been justing at his own idleness, consulting Mr John about coloured clothes for the Princess' birthday, repeating a conversation between himself and his peruke-maker who would have persuaded him to keep one of his full bottoms in case his Lordship should come in again, and in short been as lively company as he ever was in a family commerce-party at Wimpole. Lady Hardwicke has been quite as unconcerned as himself. 20 November 1756. PAGE 202. Richmond. War. Mrs Yorke a son Tuesday. 4 June 1757. PAGE 203. St James' Square. Politics. War. 11 June 1757. PAGE 207. - Politics. Lord Hardwicke much pressed to go back. 18 June 1757. PAGE 214. - Politics. Riots of the country people about corn. 25 June 1757. PAGE 221 - Politics and War. 2 July 1757. PAGE 228 - War. Remove tonight to town, and middle of the week to Wrest. 9 July 1757. PAGE 231. Wrest. 1 year 8 months absence. Perplexed about safe travel for children in hot weather. Divided journey; they set out from London Wednesday evening and came here by breakfast time yesterday morning; my Lord and I did the same last night and this morning. Thunderstorm at St Albans; London was hotter and more unpleasant than one commonly finds it. An evening family party in the Admiralty barge merely to enjoy a cool breeze in rowing up and down the river; very delightful; the joy Bell was in at being added to the party, carried for the first time upon the water, and shown London and Westminster bridges was very amusing. PAGE 234 - Thunderstorm. Lord Hardwicke and Mr John Yorke followed our example in dividing their journey, came Saturday morning to breakfast. His Lordship in excellent spirits, walks, rides and lounges and talks just as usual; reading over again the Athenian Letters and poor Mr Edward's sonnets. Mr Wray also here. 21 July 1757. PAGE 236. Wrest. Reference to early years. Epic poem called the Epigoniad. Militia Act. In this county our governor has a mind to be active, but I am told it is with great unpopularity, and that clamour is rising very high among common people. New ways of numbering them in their parishes and drawing lots for their service has struck them as being picket out and voted to destruction to save their neighbours. Company left Monday no one but some musicians. Lord Hardwicke going to Wimpole. King has appointed him Cabinet counsellor though without an office, and directed him to be consulted on all occasions. 28 July 1757. PAGE 242. Wrest. Books; Damien's trial and execution. War. 4 August 1757. PAGE 245. Wrest. [Obscure]. War. 10 August 1757. PAGE 248. Wrest. War. The King said to Lord Hardwick "My Lord, you put me in mind of Augustus, who said he would appoint himself a successor that he might be regretted, but you don't want a foil." I think it was one of the genteelest handsomest compliments I have ever heard, great quickness in the thought, and something of a dignity and ease in the manner that surprised and pleased me. [This was in conversation about settling the disposition of places, great seal came under consideration, Lord Hardwicke named in rank and order such of the principal lawyers who might pretend to it]. He has not mentioned this outside family. 13 August 1757. PAGE 253. Wrest. Weather. Combination among farmers, mealmen etc. My Lord gone to London this week on some Cambridgeshire business; Lieutenant vacant, Lord Hardwicke chooses his son should be put in office rather than self. 28 August 1757. PAGE 256. Wrest. Sunshine; hope remaining harvest successful; price of corn; High life factious, low life unruly; absurd militia bill; people all mad here, neither do nor will understand what it means; our great man has chose to hurry things on in this county faster than in any other, and is himself perhaps the least popular in it and the least fit to carry on any business they are in general discontented and in some places have rose in mobs when their names were to be drawn. Hope not same in Cambridgeshire; my Lord holding meeting today; Quite ashamed of this letter. America. 1 September 1757. PAGE 262. Wrest. Reform of minds and manners. Militia Act. You seem to wonder at your Lord Lieutenant for not doing anything in your county, but think prudent. In this county we are at quiet again by the help of troops quartered among us. Y by agreement at meeting of Lord Lieutenant and gentleman last week under protection of troops to put off progress till November. Last Monday was to be swearing of men in Hundreds, most villages had concerted a regular plan of rising. Many principal farmers had helped on discontent. My Lord employed all last week in seeing and talking to those in neighbourhood, and had better success than many; but troops have proved most convincing argument. Cambridgeshire mob last week at Royston, imitating a Hertfordshire one a few days before. Had my Lord been at Wimpole they would have gone to him for the lists; as not, they did not fisit it, Lord Hardwicke being (they said) a good man who prevented this bill's passing when he was Chancellor. 15 September 1757. PAGE 268. Wrest. Bad events come on fast. War. America. My girls are not yet (I thank you) gone to Bungo [Civan, Roi de Bungo, a kind of novel, by M. de Beaumont]. Bell's political ideas were at their height last year. She saw so clearly into the Mediterranean affair and its consequences, she has not exerted her faculties upon any other. Mouse will be I believe more warlike, and I had thoughts of applying for a commission for her, had the militia scheme taken effect, her great joy at present being noise of all kinds and horses. 29 September 1757. PAGE 273. Wimpole. War. 6 October 1757. PAGE 276. Wimpole. War. 13 October 1757. PAGE 283. Wimpole. (Leave tomorrow). War and politics. Fire at a windmill near. 20 October 1757. PAGE 289. Richmond. Carried Bell to her 1st play, the Rehearsal, seemed much diverted. 29 October 1757. PAGE 290 . - War. 5 November 1757. PAGE 295. [Letters of 1758 could not be found. Note that Bishop of Oxford made Archbishop of Canterbury about that time, and passed summer 1758 in St James' Square while Lambeth was getting ready.]. PAGE 296. Wrest. Little news. 5 August 1758. [Miss Talbot went to Bristol for health 1759]. PAGE 301. Glad better. 7 April 1759. PAGE 303 - Books - life of Gustavus Adolphus by Harte, canon of Windsor. Hume's list. Little girl under Mr Hawkin's direction and has taken physic, and it will be done this week, but the day is not quite fixed. Rasselas. 17 April 1759. PAGE 306 - Kind wishes for little girl. As well as can be, and the distemper of as favourable a sort as possible; eruption now all out, not much in quantity, and very distinct and large in quality, and attended with no more fever than was just necessary; rising very properly to the turn; a disease sometimes so terrible in its effects has been to her quite a trifle (greatest thankful to Providence). Ten days without engagements ought to give vast deal of leisure; do no more than if abroad; necessary business of each day; attendance on my little or rather great mouse, visitors that call. Books. 30 April 1759. PAGE 309. - Health. Wait patiently till increase of strength brings a more settled equal state both of mind and of body. My little girl well, but ferment in blood not yet over , red rash gone, but pimples, arms not healed. 18 May 1759 PAGE 313. - Came to town yesterday, Prince's birthday (also Catherine Talbot's). Go tomorrow to Moor Park, carry the happiest creature now in the world, my daughter. In expectation of this ever since Christmas, for last month scarcely thought of anything else. Bell's fondness for Lady Anson, and 1st time of seeing Moor Park; may never be so happy again in her life. 5 June 1759. PAGE 316. Not at Moor Park. Party broke up Monday. It was fit Bell should learn that the greatest happiness is not most lasting, useful lesson at all times. Everything succeeded, weather changed, 3 finest days. 16 June 1759. PAGE 317. Richmond. Visit to Petworth, 3 days, very agreeable. 30 June 1759. PAGE 318. Wrest. Sad event of last week, shock sudden, thunderstroke, could not believe possible, deprived forever of so lovely an object (etc. etc. as to Mary Gregory). 17 July 1759. PAGE 321. Frighted by Bell's being taken ill, with a good deal of fever, more alarm (sad scene we come from) to my Lord and me; proved feverish cold. PAGE 321 . Wrest. Thanks for consolation. Regrets for virtuous friend selfish. Gratefully acknowledge goodness of Providence, in so many years I never before felt the shock so near; ardent wish, kind of wild curiosity to know the present situation of those whom an instant's time has deprived us of here. 26 July 1759. PAGE 326 - Same subject. No doubts that whatever is ordained for us whether here or hereafter must be right. To that I hope ever to recur. 5 August 1759. PAGE 327. Uneasy about Lady Anson. 5 August 1759. PAGE 330. - Good news [not clear]. 16 August 1759. PAGE 333. - Health. Leaving Bristol. War. 28 August 1759. PAGE 339. Wrest. Death of Bishop of Gloucester. ? Dr Gregory, if Bishop Johnson goes from Gloucester. 4 October 1759. PAGE 341. - Birthday wishes. Lord Hardwicke town last night better than expected. Bell a little too hot in the night, but well now. 4 June 1760. PAGE 342. Sunning Hill Description. Agrees with Bell. To see Windsor castle soon. 20 July 1760. PAGE 349. - Blessings etc. Disclaims tincture of melancholy you warn me from. [More of her state of mind] . My Lord on tour to Salisbury. Goes out with Bell; delightful spot in forest. 29 July 1760. PAGE 364. Sunninghill. Glad to receive her lessons. My Lord's return. 7 August 1760. PAGE 357. Wrest. Similar to page 364. 28 August 1760. PAGE 360. Wrest. Miss or Mistress Catherine. Papa and Father. 25 September 1760. PAGE 365. Wrest. Books. 2 October 1760. PAGE 367. Wimpole. Two pictures in dining room, one detestable representation of sweetly-pleasing object; other long here. 6 October 1760. PAGE 369. Wimpole. Health. General reflections. 23 October 1760.

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,
Yorke, Jemima,
Grey, Marchioness,
Yorke, Charles,
Freeman, Catherine,
Wray,
Royston,
Freeman,
Heathcote,
Heathcote, Margaret,
Jenyns,
Sotheby,
Yorke, Philip,
Hardwicke,
Anson,
Aislabie,
de Maintenon,
Byng, John,
Secker, Thomas,
Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of,
Devonshire, William Cavendish, 4th Duke of,
Lincoln,
Lyttleton, George,
Cleveland,
Hardwicke,
Yorke,
Yorke, John,
Edwards,
de Beaumont,
Yorke, Amabel,
Yorke, Mary Jemima Grey,
Harte,
Hawkins,
Anson, Elizabeth,
Gregory, Mary,
Maddox, Isaac,
Gregory,
Johnson, James,
Damiens, Robert Francois

CORRESPONDENCE, weather, weddings, MARRIAGE, POLITICS, WARS & TREATIES, earthquake, Lisbon, militia, legal process, gout, Treasury, Chancery, rioting, barges, Cabinet, executions, lieutenant, corn, Harvest Festival, United States of America, FIRE, windmills, bishops, books, distemper, DEATH, Bishop of Worcester