Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/14/333/97
  • Title
    From Fritz, Whitehall to 2nd Baron Grantham:
  • Date free text
    22 May 1778
  • Production date
    From: 1778 To: 1778
  • Scope and Content
    Dined at Stratton Street, thence to the Opera, the todi not in high repute as actress or singer, no good ones at comic opera either. Mentions Mademoiselle Bante. Dined at Lord Paulett's with Mrs. Aislabie, Lord & Lady Downe, Lady Susan, Mr. Anne & Lord Hinton. Describes how they look. Met Mr. Parker & Nanny at Ranelagh also Mrs. Coghill and daughter. Comments on crowds, not tolerable until after twelve. Mrs. Coghill is now Mrs. Cromer, change of name for Estate in Yorkshire. Attended Levee, and was at Drawing Room. Goes alternate weeks. Wife of Harry Jane presented "young, beautiful and rich". Maiden name Batson. Visited Saltram last summer with Mrs. Mitchell. Roman Catholicks to Court; new bills for moderating Laws against them. Lady Arundell there for first time. Dined at Lord Worthington's with Batt & Chuff Legge. St. John supposed to have been there. Went on to Mrs. Stainforth's not to Almack's despite ticket. Bed early, likes extra sleep every so often. Feeling fine but will see Dr Warren before he leaves Town. Doesn't know whether Lady Louisa "too exigente" but MacDonald looks very ill. Saw Lord Robert at Opera, agreed to dine together at St. John's. Relates story of Miss Kennedy who lives with Lord Robert, vomiting in John's hat at the play. Discussion of stomach contents; conclusion port wine. Prince Boothby believed to have made an unsuccessful proposal to Mrs. Lockhart, "she is quite the fashion". Spends much time with Lady Holderness lately. Miss Danby reckoned handsome but doesn't please Fritz. Mentions Lady Lucy Douglas, Duchess of Buccleugh, Lady Frances Scott. Price arrived in town. Jim [?] Hare driving about town in fine vis a vis; but no visible means of subsistence. Latter always congratulates Fritz on Tuesday club "not having yet lost a member by the hands of justice". Lord [?] has a charming wife but they are ruined. Abilities of Charles Fox in Parliament "more admired than ever, but carry no weight, he plans his measures without consulting those who expect it & consequently finds himself almost unsupported and alone at the execution of them. Some people think Lord Shelbourne is coming in...". Lord Suffolk probably out due to gout. Changes in Law expected. Fritz's friends think he has as good a right to be a Welsh judge as Mr. Potter; not advised to resume profession however. George Hardinge likely to lose the business he could have commanded due to wild conduct etc... Pepper Arden with fewer advantages "has the start of him". Relays details of broken inkstand, since repaired, damaged on journey home. Clothes arrived safely. Requests some natural colour Vicuna to be sent made into shape of suit; for Mr. Langlois is to be made up to avoid Custom House. Wind changed at last, fleet is supposed to have sailed. Lord Chatham currently laying in Jerusalem Chamber, to be buried in Westminster Abbey in a few days. Comments on irony of monument erected to him at public expense when it was he who executed conquest of Canada which in part precipitated loss of America. Letters coming regularly through France. Lord Graham returning to Italy. Thinks Tom may soon be tired of Militia. Lady Bety [sic] Compton not handsome, but well for £4000 a year, "I do not know that they have serious thoughts of that but it is often talked of en badinant". Mr. Parker not yet informed about destination of his Regiment. His children are well. Acquired two miniatures from Mr. Cook of Sir George and Lady Morley, also a manuscript account of the late Mr. Robinson's travels in Germany and Italy. Saw John Benham, not altered except for wearing hair round. Daughter well married, son a mauvais sujet. Mrs. Margaret Wenham is grown very old, Mr. Guy exceedingly fat. John Johnson and Sam called, they are just as usual etc... Shadwell dropped all thought of Army, now talking of Consulships but would choose none in Spain except Cadiz. Draper has chalkstones in his fingers and a poor right hand, otherwise strong and hearty. "If you receive this in the Garden of the Island tell Venus that I do not sacrifice more at her altars here than I did in Spain & tell Bacchus that you know he can want of but little more favor from me".
  • Level of description
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