L30/15/54/267

From 2nd Baron Grantham, Whitehall to Fritz (Frederick):

3 Feb 1785

From: 1785 To: 1785

Glad the birth of Waddilove's latest child well over, assume he is pleased it's a boy. Fears the weather will delay work at Newby [Park]. Lady Robinson told him of Mr. Ellis’ illness. Mrs. Worsley wrote enclosing her subpoena, sent on to Wilmot. Jem worried that the 'flying' paints in his stomach are gout. Ralph wrote briefly from Cambridge. Went to see Macbeth yesterday with Tom [Pelham]. Mrs. Siddons was "super excellent", describes her acting briefly. Comparison with Mrs. Pritchard. Applause excessive etc.. Miss Kemble ill received in the Farce which followed, had to leave the stage which dampened Mrs. Siddon's satisfaction according to Lady Harcourt who was in Mrs. Siddon's dressing room afterwards. Grantham et al didn't stay for the Farce. Lameness this morning due to seating conditions. Attended Court and Council today however without inconvenience. Scrutiny Question comes on Friday. Opposition preparing some business on India Affairs intended to plague Dundas particularly. They also have some notion of gaining individuals on this issue, whom he has disobliged. General Ross "mad and outrageous" letter to Lord Governor Boyd. Grantham told he is either under arrest or confined. Vignoles said poor Bobby Baird was nearly ruined by living with too high Company. Vignoles met all the Forbes' at Lord Paget's. Lives near the Poole's in Ireland, dining with them at Grantham's on Monday. Vexed at his engagement to dine at Pitt's on Sunday if that is the day Fritz arrives. Grief of the great monkey at the Haymarket at the death of his companion, a lap dog, who got into his cage by accident. Hunter is depicting it etc.... Reading the Cream of the Dispute about the Scheld, in Linguet's Defence of the Emporer and Mirabeau's Answer to it. Comments. Breach of Treaty of Munster by the Emporer ill defended by former etc... Smart pamphlets on Reform, supposedly Shendair's[?] and Jennings. One, very severe, upon the notice taken of Mrs. Hastings at the Queen's House. Lady Grey and Lady G. [Grantham] have been to Downman's and Hamilton's. Thought that Lord Hardwicke would not be satisfied with the works of the former. Sir Samson and Lady Gideon prevented from visiting the Grantham's this summer by Lord Gages' strangury [disease of the urinary organs characterized by slow and painful emission of urine]. Grantham would have been surprized by a visit. Gage very ill, has a catheter inserted, showed it to T. Pelham and nearly made his sick. Met Wm. Broderick at Court, said Miss Broderick ill having caught cold at Almack's. Tom [Pelham] mistook Montague for Musquiz and told several people. Wm. Broderick plagues Montagu about it. Activities of a wild set who get drunk and break windows and lamps. Neraud's hotel mentioned, he will prosecute them for breaking in. Lenox and Conway great ringleaders. Thinks Hugh too old for such pranks. Lenox recently broke some fine glass panes of a shop in St. James' Street and convinced the owner it was William Grenville, alias Bogie, who was made to pay. As the latter is widely disliked most people like the story. Children well, briefly describes them. Lady Grantham sends love.

item

Waddilove,
Ellis,
Worsley,
Wilmot,
Worsley, Ralph,
Pelham, Thomas,
Siddons,
Pritchard,
Kemble,
Harcourt,
Ross,
Boyd,
Vignoles,
Baird,
Forbes,
Paget,
Pitt,
Hunter,
Hastings,
Downman,
Hamilton,
Samson,
Gideon,
Gage,
Broderick, William,
Broderick,
Montagu,
Musquiz,
Neraud,
Lenox,
Conway,
Grenville, William