L30/15/54/124

From 2nd Baron Grantham, Madrid to Fritz (Frederick) [no.14]:

Mar 1779

From: 1779 To: 1779

Response to his nos. 14 and 15. Hadn't heard of Lady Maynard before. Congratulations on his Election at Brook's etc... Approves the Yorkshire idea if Tom [Pelham] is prescribed to Harrogate. Happy at Nanny's being pleased with her chair, asks what Nanny wears lately, feathers, muslin furbants etc. Was wrong not to acknowledge Lord S's speech which Fritz sent, thought it very proper. Situations like his are often delicate. Lord W. never did answer the letter in question. Will have the pictures by Marlow and Devis. Sir T. Robinson furnished his rooms so. No. 15; wishes Tom [Pelham] had undergone some discipline for his complaint. Delighted with story of Lord Malden and Mr Collett. Has sent a bill of Lading to Widow Brodeirs. Order of the Cream Pot. Idea of Mr Edgecumbe's Views a good one, should be improved upon in a circular room with a sky light. Humphry is a fool for quitting miniatures. Mr Gardner's must be pretty. Remembers Romney at Rome. Sorry for Swinburne's etchings. Waddilove thinking of a head of Mengs' for the letter [publication of?]. His CM [His Catholic Majesty] aware of Fritz's great attention to the Almodovars etc. Fritz has been gone nearly twelve months. Dined at the Duchess of Arcos' on Tuesday. The Ramel's dined today, stayed until five, gave her his two little Pillements. Seizure of a large amount of gold (near 5000 Pistoles) upon a French Messenger, taken at Vittoria, pleaded that the carrying it out of the Kingdom is therefore not proved "but the want of a Guia even at the Borders of Castile is a reply by which I fancy Jr. Michael will abide", he premeditated the seizure, with the consent of his colleagues it is thought. Summer stuffs arrived. Various colours. Monmorin and Ossuna mentioned. Was the cast of Tom [Pelham's] head liked? Has spoilt their ordinary snuff box by experimenting, it will do for his cast of Oedipus, will present it to Waddilove. Has already given him some cast off ornaments from the Desert. Masserano called today. His wife is quite ashamed of his conduct. Borgos is a very good lad indeed. 11 March 1779. Walked and had music as usual. Rain laid the dust on the Pardo road. Dined at Morino's. Waddilove dined again at Bayer's with the Inquisitor General. Both walked homewards, Grantham walked up to Ramel's. [Madame Ramel] is "well behaved and as modest as I remember English women to have been ". He is easy and well behaved too. His brother dined at Morino's for the first time today, being presented at Court also. Requested that Floridablanca drop in Conversation at the Dispatches, that Grantham expected Lord Chatham etc... no surprise created. 13 [March 1779]. Visited the Duchess of Bejar's. The Fernanunez' are well pleased at Lisbon and like the Factory [English] there. Madame describes the dresses and mentions trimmed aprons which Grantham hadn't heard of. Little Duchess semper eadum, in want of a Prop. The Almoneda in the ground floor is a deplorable collection de Trastos viejo's, nothing for W. [Waddilove] to pick up. Grantham is to go through the translation of Mengs' letter, must caution against losing patience and throwing cold water on the project. Letters waiting for Lord Chatham and Mr Conway. Mr Colt is a neighbour of Sir Ja. Grant's at Edinburgh, recommended to Waddilove by Captain Duff, Lady Grant's brother. Nothing to confirm their suspicions in a letter from Mrs General Grant shown Grantham by Waddilove. Has Brown any sisters. "Inconceivable the business Brown does for him and how he gets through it God knows". Seward is a great correspondent but singularly incorrect. Had once thought of him to replace Fritz but he wouldn't have done. Conway is in the Navy, remembers him at Lord Hertford's in blue worsted stockings a few years ago. Munro has been in Old Castile with Tio Domingo to see M. Ensenada at Medina del Campo. Speaks as highly of him as of poor dear Mr. Wall. Describes him as like Gusman, cheerful, polite and smart. He dines alone, keeps up some State, knows all that happens through Lozada who writes. Will write by private opportunity when he can send drawings of the Inkstand. Cannot help retracing their last days together etc... Remembers their horrid walk to Copin's [Cossin's] for books etc. Love to Nanny and Parkers. Heard they all had a full family day with Pel-s [Pelham's] of all ages. "I wish one was younger, yet observe me not too young. We must not split that rock". 14 March 1779.

item

Maynard,
Pelham, Thomas,
Marlow,
Devis,
Robinson, T.,
Malden,
Collett,
Brodeirs,
Edgecumbe,
Humphry,
Gardner,
Romney,
Swinburne,
Waddilove,
Mengs,
Almodovar,
Arcos,
Ramel,
Michael,
Monmorin,
Ossuna,
Masserano,
Morino,
Bayer,
Chatham,
Bejar,
Fernanunez,
Conway,
Colt,
Grant,
Duff,
Brown,
Seward,
Hertford,
Munro,
Wall,
Lozada,
Pelham