W1/6001/16

Lady Elizabeth Whitbread, Purfleet, to Maria Edgeworth (3 sheets).

14 October 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

A packet reached me a few days ago with the following line on cover - 'Mr Wilkie will take an early opportunity of waiting upon Lady Elizabeth' - I thank you for this little gleam of sunshine, amidst some disquietudes. To account for absence from home - nearly 3 months - home has long called for repairs, painting &c, but till this year have not been able to make up mind. Then mind bent upon planting myself within reach of Daughter Elizabeth - At length through kindness of Mr Ellice & exertion of my Son William, leave obtained from Board of Ordnance to occupy vacant apartments in Store-keeper's house in this Garrison - & within walking distance of Daughter. Disquietudes to which alluded, caused by her suffering state. She is uncomplaining & cheerful but I see she suffers much at times & is still confined to her couch - She is much better at moment & I trust I shall be able to leave her without anxiety - for my leave will expire soon. Julia here for 1 month then to Highfield - she will meet me on my return home - can make better report of her now than two months ago - then in weak state with cough & other unpleasant symtoms - this as you may suppose (for you appreciate her value) was cause of great anxiety - reports lately much better. To revert to Mr Wilkie - how many times I wished to be present at your discussions with him, they must have been so amusing - not having been, I look forward to seeing him on my return home & shall question him closely on all that passed at Edgeworth-Town. In meantime I incline to 'The Sleeping Peep-of-day-Boy' - so does Elizabeth, to whom I read your amusing dissertation. I am called to Elizabeth, parting with her two sons, going for first time to their respective universities - Oxford & Cambridge - their Father accompanies them; therefore I shall have many parts to fill up. Must mention my Eldest Brother - have a charming account from Lady Dacre who passed a week at Howick. Of him she says- 'he looks 10 yrs younger, his person & complexion do not look 50, & he seems cheerful & happy & busy with his terrace,& to have forgotten there is such a thing as politics in the World'. My daughter Emma [Shaw Lefevre] & all her belongings - well - likewise Sam & his excellent Wife & beautiful progeny.

item

Whitbread, Elizabeth,
Edgeworth, Maria,
Grant, Julia,
Wilkie,
Ellice,
Whitbread, William Henry,
Waldegrave, Elizabeth,
Waldegrave, William,
Dacre,
Grey, Charles, 2nd Earl Grey,
Shaw Lefevre, Emma,
Whitbread, Samuel Charles