L30/11/122/82

Sent from Wrest:

15 Aug 1775

From: 1775 To: 1775

Lord Polwarth's colds. Why necessary to be much in public that may occasion colds? American news. Yesterday we had a full room, great part of our visitors all together; Lord and Lady Torrington, Mr and Mrs Ongley met, as if ill fate had done it on purpose. My Lord said, this was a neutral port, and vessels that sailed in must all be friends when they met or not risk coming; carried it off better than I expected; gentlemen really seemed acquainted; ladies not so well, looked very glum, poor Mrs Ongley could with difficulty unbend. Because of rank etc. no avoiding that Lord Torrington sat by her at dinner, (19) and Mr Ongley by Lady Torrington - don't you think it mended their appetites greatly and that I ought to have sent this morning to enquire how they did? However it forced them into helping each other etc. , and really did behave exceedingly well, but was vexed at ill luck that they should just fix on same day; probably have choked if Sir George Osborn had finished the party (left country), [gone to Dresden with physician for sick brother; prevented his being at Bedford Club on Monday last; 23 present; 7 more prevented] It was no bad addition considering all things to have such a sort of whimsical character as little Mr Howard's of Cardington amongst us. [He too we hear has unexpectedly joined the Bedford Club] He had been 3 months abroad contining gaol progress through France, Flanders, Holland; just returned from Hague; shocked to hear he says in no country are prisoners so ill kept as in England; in France they don't know the gaol distemper, never having it in their prisons, which are kept remarkably clean... This really hurts both one's vanity and humanity. Another Lady Ann Saunderson.

item

Polwarth,
Torrington,
Ongley,
Osborn, George,
Howard,
Saunderson, Anne

CORRESPONDENCE, colds, gaol, distemper