L30/14/333/190

From Fritz, Whitehall to 2nd Baron Grantham:

23 Mar 1779

From: 1779 To: 1779

Anniversary of their parting yesterday. Lamenting separation. Mr. Parker thinking of asking Grantham to buy him the Murillo. Grantham's current finances would enable him to buy a Murillo or Velasquez at around £8-9000. Pictures not selling well in England this year. Saw a Rubens or Vandyke reduced to under 100 guineas. Angelica [Kaufmann's] portrait of little girl [Theresa Parker] not quite finished etc... Not like Sir Joshua "the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth". Little boy [Jack Parker] by Gardner is very like etc... Unsure whether Carlisle's Velaquez is a portrait of the slave, thinks it is Charles II at four years old. Will try and see that which is in Bedford House. Governor Johnstone ill in House of Commons, man of much information etc... Elliott died in India on journey between Bengal & Poonah. Comte Cavally is the Venetian Resident. He knew Gazola and also Preston at Naples. Pleased at Gazola's approbation of Arnal's Inkstand. Delivered Waddilove's letters to Lort, thinks latter sick on tarts from the pastry cook’s where he lodged and has moved to the Apothecary's in Bond Street. Lort sends letter for Dr. Antonio Pons. Buttons sent with Masin are now out of fashion. Papier mache by Clery much worn. Ramel is ill advised in not going to Aranjuez. Did M. Monmorin take Medina Sidonia's house in town? Does Galvez live at the Duque de Hijar’s at Madrid? Reading Swinburne's letters. Not yet sold at Elmsley's. Copy for Grantham & Waddilove. Quarto volume, large letters, etchings not very good. Engravings by Giagnoni better. Spanish Tour. Too much of trifles not enough useful information. Spaniards will not be flattered. Inquisition will prohibit it. Mr. Clifford, son of Roman Catholic Lord Clifford, just returned from abroad. Remarkably handsome etc... Tom Constable ill at York. Family party at Mr. Parker's; Lord & Lady Paulett[Powlett], Lord Hinton, Lady Susan & Mr. Anne, Mr. & Mrs. Kelly, Miss Parker. Dined at Sir M. Ridley's with Mr. Skeffington, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Ridliy, Milbanke, Clever and Wenham. Opera & supped at Stratton Street. Dined at Martin’s with his brother, Mrs. Master, Sir Charles & Lady Cocks, her sister, Miss Poole, Miss Cocks, Mr. Campion, Mr. Herbert & Draper. Thence to Queen's House. Dined in Sackville Street with Mr. Parker & Mr. Cleveland. Called at Brooke’s. Took little boy to his house. Showed him a live Ostrich exhibited in the Haymarket. Commission for Duchess of Arcos by Mr. Paxton soon ready. May send Branciforte's Piano forte at some time. Staffordshire ware also soon ready. Called on La Pierre. Madame or Nanny not there. Accounts of Lady Ossory contradictory, reports of her going off or of no misconduct at all. Captain Fielding brings reports of M. D'Estaign's being trapped in Martinico. Mrs. Fielding appointed Bedchamber woman to Queen. Sir Robert Harland goes out again with Fleet, second in command.

item

Parker,
Rubens, Peter Paul,
Rubens,
van Dyck, Anthony,
Kauffmann, Angelica,
Parker, Theresa (1775-1856),
Reynolds, Joshua,
Parker, Jack,
Gardner,
Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y,
Velazquez,
Johnstone,
Elliott,
Cavally,
Gazola,
Preston,
Waddilove,
Lort,
Pons, Antonio,
Masin,
Clery,
Ramel,
Monmorin,
Sidonia,
Galvez,
Swinburne,
Clifford,
Constable, Thomas,
Parker,
Powlett,
Hinton,
Kelly,
Ridley,
Skeffington,
Hampden,
Milbanke,
Clever,
Wenham,
Martin,
Master,
Cocks, Charles,
Poole,
Cocks,
Campion,
Herbert,
Draper,
Cleveland,
Brooke,
Arcos,
Paxton,
Ossory,
Fielding,
Estaign,
Harland, Robert

watches, artists, DEATH