Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/14/333/187
  • Title
    From Fritz, Whitehall to 2nd Baron Grantham:
  • Date free text
    16 Mar 1779
  • Production date
    From: 1779 To: 1779
  • Scope and Content
    Full & unreserved letter by M. Almodobar's messenger. Will try & send little girl's picture when it is finished. Duke of Roxburghe to marry Lady Harriet Spencer. His house in Hanover Square, rebuilt but not finished. Passes summer in London and winter in Scotland. Miss Townshend, Lady Greenwich's daughter, who was "quite a pattern miss" went off with Mr. Wilson of no fortune & bad character. Bishop of Landaff's (Shute Barrington) Bill; prevention of marriage of a woman divorced, with the man who caused her adultery. She also cannot marry in the year following her divorce. To be opposed in Commons [passed Lords L30/14/333/199*]. Lord Carmarthen bill brought in yesterday [not specified]. He is thought to marry Lady Laura Waldegrave. Has never seen a sword in the style of Belmonte's buckles, wouldn't look good unless gold. Recently saw a fine steel sword for 60 guineas. Another sold at Christie’s for approx. £600 but this was gold & brilliants, made by Cox. Glad Grantham's function well received; puppet show & ballad. "O'Rourkes feast will never be forgot, By those who were there & those who were not". Almodobar in mourning for La de Mora. Hope he will not invite Grantham's friend Ramon to finish his education in England. Hopes M. Bejar will marry Santa Cruz. Supposes he will hear from General Carpenter when Grantham has written. Fritz does not resemble M. Ramel’s brother. Most of former contemporaries are larger although not fatter then than before he left England, thinks his development stinted by incompatibility with Spanish climate. Enjoys perfect health & spirits now but has grave appearance; no opportunity of indulging his turn for nonsense etc. Accident at Port St. Mary's; hopes numbers of lives lost is exaggerated. O'Reilly will be much hurt. Murillo's for Mr. Parker may be sent either to London or Exeter. Semi-oval marble tables will be proper & pretty. Hasn't seen any watches like Torremanozaxal’s[?]; has seen small ‘arborize’. Saw Dick Thompson's snuff box, bright brown ground with very small flowers & oval watch "people who have money cannot afford such bijoux, those who are ruined have whatever they please". Unlimited credit of former years stopped however. Very difficult to borrow even small sums upon best securities. It is thought the money is in hands of lenders who hoard it, "it is not to be conceived the Fortune Jack Manners had made by supplying the calls of the extravagant". "Precipitate dissipation & expense" largely over by Fritz's return. Tom Pelham has a Sallust, Grantham's is bound & arrived in last envoi, Fritz's in sheets can't find it at Whitehall. Storer has a Baskerville bible which is bound by Roger Payne. Glad Los adar [Losada] & Gazola liked his letter. Transportation of Chico; Escarano had £300, unexpected with no letter of evidence. Ministers of the second order in England always have money given them. Happy Masin returning to Grantham. Will organise manufacture of his coach panels upon receipt of dimensions. Doesn't doubt he will bring Grantham a cane head from Paris nor that Mr. Jeffery's would make a handsomer one than Mr. Drais "but I have changed my Stock buckle". Won't be in time to have the cypher put on Duque de Arcos' Staffordshire ware. Supposes Waddilove thinks that Clough advised on Admiral Palliser's. Sorry he didn't keep Dr. Achmet's Packet, thought it contained nothing but patterns of poplins. Where is Griaste's new house? Wishes Grantham hadn't missed his Philip 4th and that he had St. Saphorin's Pillement. Fritz does not regret missing Ottomendi's dinner. Dined at Lord Pelham's. Mr. Milbanke & Lady Mary there. Dined at Mr. Weddell's with Mr. Parker, Nanny, Mrs. Aislabie, Mr. Crowle & Sir John Ramsden. Went to Opera, supped at Stratton St. Dined at the Milbanke’s with Mr. & Mrs. Curzon, his wife's sister married to Lord Scarsdale's son, Lady Caroline & Mr. Dawson, Mr. & Mrs. Li Damer, Sir William & Lady Milner, Mr. Hanger & Mr. Crowle. Mrs. Milbanke & Mrs. Curzon clean, pretty, in the style of the Romanita. Lady Milner was a Miss Sturt. Sees nothing in Mr. Hanger which would induce his friends to pay his debts as before. Lord Egremont gave £5000 at the instance of Lady Melbourne; Lord Melbourne ruined but not Lord Egremont, assemblies & large suppers every night at Melbourne House. Lord Harrington still ill but no sign of death. Lady Betty Compton recovered from serious illness. Attended Queen's House. Attended House of Lords, dined with Lord Pelham, met Lady Pelham, Harriett & Mrs. Charles Pelham at Pantheon. Pantheon newly painted, background light blue/grey/green can't tell by candlelight. Ornaments white. [Fritz's opinion favourable, describes the place and audience in detail]. House of Lords. Enquiry into the conduct & government of Greenwich hospital, has begun "to accumulate odium & accusation on Lord Sandwich". Brought into House by Duke of Richmond. Two matters of complaint: alterations to Constitution of Hospital by a new Charter and abuse of institution by giving away certain places to landmen. Eden gave evidence at bar, he is Counsel for Hospital, had principle hand in alterations. Affairs of the African Company to go before Parliament. Bishop of Peterborough (John Hinchliffe) asked Fritz to acquire information about the state of Negro Slaves in the Spanish settlements in the Western Islands. Recently passed law in Spain to allow slaves to buy their freedom, details of scheme given. Bishop of Oxford (John Butler) wishes to know authenticity of information; from book by Mr. Sharpe. Fritz requests that Waddilove investigates via Campomanes or Galvez. Bishop of Chester's Fast Sermon enclosed [not present]. Children recovered from colds [Jack & Theresa Parker]. Little boy reading Robinson Crusoe. Lady Melbourne brought to bed. Lord & Lady Surry have parted, she has returned to her father. Cruelly treated by drunken husband. Lady Mary Hume has applied to Fritz to be introduced at the Spanish Embassadors. Not the only Obispa there; Canterbury, Worcester & la Vicuda of Exeter. Dined at Milbanke’s, pretty house, dinner not bad, serving indicated unused to giving dinner.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser