L30/15/54/69

From 2nd Baron Grantham, St. Ildefonso to Frederick:

Aug 1778

From: 1778 To: 1778

Letter of 29 June missing. Contained a small drawing. Hoping to start drawing again in a few days. Gives his day's routine, Court attendance etc... Lozaro admitted to dine at the second table at Delapierre's suggestion, makes him Officer d'Office. Monsieur Carré, Cook to the Joyes', is to marry a Marchande de Mode. Thinks Maria will marry Domingo, who lived at Masin's, she is forty with grown up children. Marques has desered and taken saction at the Nuncio's under Ali's protection. The Reventon at the Puerta is to be lowered thirty feet. Don Juan Packier[?] lives in theirhouse of last year. Seward has written. Gibralter Marbles daily expected. Jicolo may finish them if they are not well enough polished. Glass on Frederick's portrait cracked. Snuff box glass also broken but replaced. Massernao/Masserano not well, his exercise is too much for him, thinks he will leave his present career. Azara wrote. Mengs is very bad, has finished Grantham's picture but will touch it again. Grantham will ask for Byers to take it out of Mengs' hands. Carmona is gone to Rove to marry Mengs' daughter. The whitewashed beams of his Great Room look good. Has never walked up and down the Court, not cheerful with Frederick let alone without him. 14 August 1778. Attended Court, dined at Floridablanca's, walked over Venice's hill, round by the Puente de Cecilia and along the Robledo road. Madame Penafuente sent Kauntiz/Kaunitz a letter from Madame Almodóvar to herself giving an excellent account of Frederick who she thinks "fat and well". Hopes Frederick spoke Spanish to her. Grantham's assurance of his own wellbeing. Has written to Byers and Jenkins, directing the former to get his picture from Mengs and send it to Frederick. May not keep up his Rinfresco in Agrass as he begins his quart of cow's milk tomorrow. Has fine peaches and greengages today. 15 [August 1778]. Just returned from a tour of the Cowhouse which they have often made together. Sitio not full but their Terullia's may enliven it; the Nuncio's tonight, Grantham's tomorrow, Tuesday Kaunitz, Wednesday Venice, Thursday France, Friday Belache au Theatre and Saturday Portugal. There is a Portuguese there who is going to Lisbon and from thence to his destination as Minister of Holland. The Ship on which Diego came was with their Fleet for three days and treated civilly, although rummaged afterwards by a Guernsey Privateer which has given rise to complaint. Madame Dufour, in debt seven crowns for brandy at Aranjuez, has elpased to avoid Monsieur Dufour's indignation. Often reflects how impossible it would have been to endure S. [?Shadwell] staying there. W. [?Waddilove] is in very good spirits, thinks Frederick's last letter to him has given him hope [of return to England?]. He is going to Paular and was yesterday at Segovia. Gibralter Marbles arrived, will see them at Madrid. Sorry he didn't send a pattern of his demisaison [clothes]. Reading Dr. Wharton badly, cannot read the old poetry, however likes the work generally. Has also brought a volume of Cicero, Virgil, Horace, Milton and the Books du Metier. 16 [August 1778]. Has written to him under cover to Draper [L 30/15/54/70] through France. He will not miss much if it is lost except 'Baron Levetzow's' na,e in legible writing and his calling Frederick pinguis et nitidus instead of Gardo y bueno. Has received no. 38 read it in the walk to the Baths of Diana. Hasn't written to Achmet as he's waiting for a paper from Joyes on linnens which they wish to have directly imported in Spain. Will conclude Valenti's Commission. Phenomenon of the Ox suckling and rearing a calf. Frederick's hypothesis about Music is charming but he is Orpheus proof. Begs pardon for his concern at Frederick's champaign drinking. Cannot understand why his Aunt [Stainforth] needs to pay Madame Swellenberg so much attention. All that Frederick has done about Almodovar, themselves and Shadwell is right. Wishes situation concerning the latter was settled. Glad he send for [Dr.] Warren and Frederick's health is re-established. Had Company last night, won a few Crowns etc.. Attended Court today, dined at Portugal's. Scolded the lazy servants for not giving notice of it at home, dined at Portugal's. Waddilove waited for dinner there. Details of ride on Tordo. Now off to Kaunitz'. 18 [August 1778]. Pick Nick Dinner at the Bosa [Bocca] del Asino. Kaunitz brought Boeuf a la Mode, hock and Tokay. Monmorin a pie, blan manger, Champaign and Claret. Portugal; ham and Madeira, Zenowieff a Fricassee in a load, the Nuncio; Macaroni, pastry and ices, Venice; cold veal, coffee, Marasquin and fruit and Grantham; cold roast beef, beer and punch. They all went to Arcas'. Coach etc... Giusti, Burgoyne and Waddilove also there. The King knew of the party and could name all the dishes. Everyone took their own plates, cutlery etc... May be another party at Rio Fria next week. Waddilove is invted to the Tertullias, may go to some but they are tiresome, there being nothing but Tresille. Letters fuller from the Country as there is more time to write and it is cooler. Going to Venice's this evening. 19 August [1778]. Received no. 40. Read it in the Garden as usual. Today's Gazette contradicts the french Account "very plump" yet not much has been done. Wishes for all or nothing; Victory or Peace. Glad he's sent Jefferies' Bill, awaits Frederick's orders about their accounts./ Didn't doubt Frederick's expenses would be grat. Only the close of the Embassy or something like, can diminish his income however. Update on other letters sent etc.. Draper writes word to Waddilove of Frederick's well being. Venice's last night, recovered some of his losses. Don Anto. Ulloa dined with Waddilove and Grantham and was very entertaining. He stoops his head more than before and has lost his little black eyed boy who died of Measles just as he went out with the Flota. Recounted to H.C.M. [His Catholic Majesty] the feats of yesterday, especially the Nuncio's teaching them to drink a glass of wine under their knee etc.... Stopped on their way back to the Sitio by the Blanquillo, and asked if they came from Madrid, they answered they were a company of Comedians etc... 20 [August 1778]. [Sic].

item

Delapierre,
Carre,
Joyes,
Masin,
Nuncio,
Seward,
Masserano,
Azara,
Mengs,
Byer,
Kaunitz,
Almodovar,
Robinson, Frederick,
Jenkins,
Diego,
Shadwell,
Wharton,
Draper,
Stainforth,
Warren,
Robinson, Frederick,
Monmorin,
Zenowieff,
Portugal,
Ulloa

MARRIAGE, cook, food & drink, DEATH