L30/14/333/203

From Fritz, Whitehall to 2nd Baron Grantham:

30 Apr 1779

From: 1779 To: 1779

Stormy weather. No mail from France. Marquis de La Torre suffered more in his voyage from Calais to Deal than those to and from America. Presented at Court. Fritz has offered his attentions whilst he's in London. Also saw Count Carlit. Attended Levée. Met Lord Hertford who's very grateful for Grantham's kindness to his son Hugh, arriving in May & to be dispatched immediately, to Portsmouth. Carried Nanny to Spanish Embassadress's. Large company. Ball at Lady Bathurst's new house, on site of Hercules Pillars, dust of one summer will spoil it. Dined at Lady Katherine Pelham's, on Lamprey sent by Mr. Parker, with Lady K's two daughters, Mr. Townshend, Miss Townshend & Nanny. Opera; buena figluola for benefit of Sestini. Latter sings at Synagogue, many of audience Jews. Dr. Fordyce in Lady Pelham's box "perhaps in his own way he may be a performer at the Synagogue if the high priest is not very dexterous". Case of books to Whites, to be sent next week. Duchess of Leinster & Mr. Ogilvie are Fritz's next door neighbours. Lord Egremont talked of for one of the Lady Waldegraves. Faulkner interested in another of them. Handsome, with good fortunes, but not easy for them to turn out well given their being left so much to themselves. Rumoured that Wedderburne to be Secretary of State. Represent appointment as a particular compliment to M. Florida [?] Blanca. Mr. Lloyd of the Wardrobe has ruined himself, forced to relinquish Offices & is in the King's Bench. Lord Pelham's successor allows him subsistence. Fritz's servant responding well to warning, will stay. Received a Quarter's salary. Draper anxious to have £500 ready for emergencies. Mrs. Harcourt at Spanish Embassadress's, recovered now. Mrs. Cowper, old flame of Grantham's, was Widow Davison, married Dr. Cowper. "She is very fat & not likely to breed, so they agreed to club their incomes [£1000 per annum, jointure, preferment resp.] & live more handsomely & comfortably than they could do separately". Sir Joshua too ill to begin the King's portrait. Mr. Harris pleased with Grantham's letter, sadly broken after illness. Mr. Parker at Newmarket. Dined alone on boiled salmon, lobster sauce, beef stakes, leg of lamb & sallad, new cheese, three oranges, pot of Porter & bottle of Port. Cannot trust little girl's portrait [Theresa Parker] to risks of sea voyage. Good resemblances but not so well painted as boy's [Jack Parker]. Angelica [Kauffmann's] sale stopped, don't know reason, said to have married Zucchi etc.. Exhibition took £1200 in shillings last year. Sending catalogue.

item

Torre,
Hertford,
Bathurst,
Pelham, Katherine,
Townshend,
Fordyce,
Pelham,
Leinster,
Ogilvie,
Egremont,
Waldegrave,
Faulkner,
Draper,
Harcourt,
Cowper,
Davison,
Reynolds, Joshua,
Harris,
Kauffmann, Angelica,
Zucchi, Antonio