L30/14/138/5

Letter:

Not dated c.1770-1777

From: 1770 To: 1777

"Sometimes I have had so much to do and at other times so little to say, that I began to think I should write no more, but as I know you have several better correspondents than I am I was sure you could be at no loss to know how we were going on in this part of the world. I was last week at the finest spectacle that I believe ever was seen in this country, I mean the review at Portsmouth which none of the account you will see can give you an idea of, it was a plan of and entirely managed by Lord Sandwich, who ought I think to be a great favourite, as he certainly procured more pleasure for his master in this scheme than all his other ministers put together ever did. The parliament is at last up, but I think the East India affairs seem to be as much at sixes and sevens as ever. I hear we are to meet again in November about them. Lady Ossory and I were less in town last winter than ever and I talk of selling my house, the Pelhams were about it, but I fancy Fanny will very soon have but little money to lay out in purchases, for I hear she lost £21,000 in 2 nights last week to a foreign Prince in London. The Duchess of Bedford is annoying herself to death at Woburn, she is chiefly occupied at present with the multiplicity of Louisa's Lovers, and which she is to encourage and which discourage etc. etc. - Lady Sackville is at Woburn and she told me yesterday Mrs Horton was going abroad and that the Duke would certainly get rid of her. I don't see him so often as I wish, he goes much to Gloucester House, and in politics is rather in opposition, our other friends go on as usual, that I should think Charles and Richard can not any longer, it is now come to a crisis and I think we must soon hear of the creditors coming up on those who are bound for them, Foley, Carlisle and Crewe are I am afraid pretty deeply engaged for Charles, Old Foley has insisted on his sons selling his race horses and breaking off the partnership with Charles, I am assured Lord Holland cannot relieve him, he paid sixty thousand for Stephen lately, who is again clear in the world, with 3,000 a year to spend, how long he will keep so, God knows. Lady Mary is breeding, so is Lady O. I don't know whether I have wrote to you since I saw the Provost, he was vastly pleased with your civility to him and talked with great pleasure of your merendas if I remember the word but upon the whole by his account I should think it requisite for an English Ambassador at Madrid to have as good a temper and spirits as you have, not to tire himself a good deal. I have not seen the Fish since I came into the Country, he was tolerably well in winter, only sometimes a little unhappy with his passion for Lady Mary; he is going to Scotland. I am going for a day or two to Newmarket and from thence to Mislley where I have not been since Mr Rigby has made it so magnificent. I continue my improvements here with considerable vigour considering how much I have done already and flatter myself you will approve when you see them, I am in hopes at no very distant time. My Dear Lord, I have tried to recollect every thing I could at this dead time of year for news, and will only conclude with telling you that Lady Ossory desires her best Compliments to you and your brother to whom likewise I beg to be remembered and believe with the greatest truth ever yours, Upper Ossory."

item

Sandwich,
Fitzpatrick, John (2nd Earl of Upper Ossory),
Robinson, Thomas (2nd Baron Grantham),
Ossory,
Pelham,
Duchess of Bedford,
Russell, Gertrude (Duchess of Bedford),
Sackville,
Horton,
Foley,
Carlisle,
Crewe,
Holland,
Fox, Stephen,
Crawfurd, John,
Rigby

CORRESPONDENCE, horses, Portsmouth, Scotland, WOBURN, Newmarket, Madrid, Spain