L30/14/333/135

From Fritz, Saltram to 2nd Baron Grantham:

29 Sep 1778

From: 1778 To: 1778

Dined at the Long Room at Plymouth. Entertainment given by Sir Christopher Treise, Colonel of the Cornish Militia, a payment of a bet with Colonel Ogilvie. Bet that the latter would break a bone, before end of campaign, by falling from horse. Real reason for wager; opportunity to repay civilities received in county, has no house, chose these means. Describes itinerary. Dined at Lord Shuldham's at Stoke, all men, eat Turtle. Dined at Mr. Lloyd's at Dock. Lord & Lady Edgecumbe, Mr. Edgecumbe & Tutor dined at Saltram. Parker invited several Cornwall people; Mr. & Mrs. Buller, her brother, Sir William Leman, Sir Christopher Trise [Treise], Mr. Basset, his brother in law Mr. Rogers & Dr Blackett. Dr Blackett preached in the Chapel. Lady Edgecumbe heard from Madame Viry, in good spirits, unlikely that Lady Edgecumbe knows cause of their disgrace. Mr. Harcourt's match with Mrs. Lockhart. Mr. Stuart of Allanbank sufficiently recovered to marry also. Reversion of bad neighbour lost by death of Cousin Roger Gea. Arrangements for purchase of silver inkstand for Saltram which Fritz saw at Perez's and mentioned to Mr. Parker. Valued at about £60 sterling. Hopes Portugal has not already melted his old Angela Toledo in exchange for it. Fritz thinks a good place for it is on the round table in the bow window of library, serves likewise as chandelier. Eat remainder of Saturday's turtle, there is now another swimming in the bath. M La Cour dresses them well but is old & infirm, stricken with gout. Inconvenient in so open a house as Saltram. He originally served in Mr. Wall's kitchen. Rode up to Camp, from thence visited Mr. Herring. Received Grantham's latest letter via Mr. Sneyd. Afraid the Duchess of Alta will come to no good. In answer to Grantham's question `are all our Lady's as notorious?' Fritz relates anecdote from dinner at Long Room; all the women being seated together to drink tea in a small hot apartment, Sir Christopher observed that it was like Calcutta, a Lady replied that it differed much in one particular, at Calcutta there was but one black hole whereas there were scores. The Lady is wife to an Officer in Somerset Militia & daughter to a Scottish Peer, educated at Boulogne & affects a thorough contempt for every species of restraint. Won 50 guineas at low vingt. Mr. Parker won the raffled horse. Thanks for nasty lines upon Portugal, they are worthy of the subject. Still unhappy at separation from Grantham. Watch for Dn Louis, arrangements for transport. Discussion about sending horses from Spain. O'Reilly & Negretti involved. Regarding Chico & Tordo, Fritz undecided as to what to do with them if they are sent; sell or keep. Leaves it up to Grantham. Scheme about Preston; also leaves decision to Grantham. Lady Jane Buller, the mother of Mr. Buller of Morval & of the Judge, is sister to Lord Bathurst. The Arch should be simple and correct. Any decoration may allude to the sea prospect & business of husbandry - something like the entrance to "my Georgick form". Hoped for Grantham's sketch of plateau, sorry it is not very antique. Will send Draper Torremanganal's commission. Will receive Mr. Aislabie's money when he knows to whom it is to be paid.

item

Treise, Christopher,
Ogilvie,
Shuldham,
Lloyd,
Edgecumbe,
Parker,
Buller,
Leman, William,
Basset,
Rogers,
Blackett,
Viry,
Harcourt,
Lockhart,
Stuart,
Gea, Roger,
La Cour,
Wall,
Herring,
Sneyd,
Alta,
Louis,
O'Reilly,
Negretti,
Buller, Jane,
Bathurst,
Draper,
Aislabie

colonel, militia, turtles