W1/6570

Samuel Whitbread II, Berne, to Elizabeth Grey. Marked no 24.

14 August 1787

From: 1787 To: 1787

My dearest Bess Forgive me if this letter is very short & very dull, I have so much noise about me I can hardly converse even with You. but as I said in my last, that perhaps I should write both from Berne & Basle, I would wish to show you that perhaps from me to you has the full force of a promise, & therefore I conclude that It has not a less important meaning from You to me; which chain of Argument tends to prove that, as the North of England is not very hot, You will take care that I should not be destitute of Cloathing, & will have begun a Waiscoat for me. I have disarmed all the indignation You may feel at so miserable a scrap as this epistle will prove, by the two first Words; the most powerful in the Mouth or Pen of some People of any in the English language. for when forgiveness is asked, the most inosterate(?) fury must be disarmed, the Injured is thrown at the feet of the Injurer & submission defeats even the most formidable & determined Adversary.- The most favourable Clouds unattended by Rain have rendured our Journey hither to delightfully pleasant in that respect. We slept at Melleray the first night. dined at Berne & slept at Soleure on Sunday, & Yesterday arrived here to dinner. We have found several of the party that We met at Geneva & were invited to attend some of them to a Ball immediately on our landing. but as I have not danced for some time, & as I was at that, & at all times too mush engaged to a partner I once or twice have danced with; I begged leave to decline, nor did Monson accept the invitation, As I am the only one who can Muster any German of all those English who are now here, I was taken out much against my Will this Morning to bargain for a Horse for one of them whose Steed had failed by the road. You see that I am a kind of haberdasher of language; deal a little in all. I should have more time for You had not this accident happened. I think I hear you cough, not on purpose, No you would not condescend; but from a Cold. You remember the reflection, 'he quitted me for a Horse;' that You in your goodness cast upon me. but this was a real act of Charity; & the good Man could not have continued his Journey without my Assistance.- I shall sit down to dinner in a few Minutes, & after it, we proceed on our return to Basle, which we shall reach tomorrow night. Monson is satisfied already with Berne & therefore we curtail our Tour a day. from Basle You shall hear. Believe then my dearest Bess that I am with the most unfeigned love & esteem now & ever Your's & Your's only S.Whitbread - Adieu. Adieu Aimep moi Tourjours.

item

Whitbread, Samuel II,
Grey, Elizabeth,
Monson, Thomas

Switzerland, Basle, Malleray, Berne, Solothurn [Canton], travel, horses, waistcoats