W1/6602

Samuel Whitbread II, Bedwell Park, to Elizabeth Grey. Marked no 19.

2 January 1788

From: 1788 To: 1788

Thank You my very dear Bess, for the letter which I received Yesterday dated the 26th but I suppose the Snow prevented the Mail Coach from performing it's Journey in the usual time. Thank You also for regretting that I met even with a trivial disappointment. Know however that the disappointment of a letter from You is not trivial, nor can You at any time write what is immaterial to me. Your letters always please me; the certaintly that at the time at least that You are writing I must be in your thoughts, gives me infinite satisfaction. therefore remember once more what You have been so often told that a letter from You is the most delightful thing I can look or feast upon in your Absence; & as the time of our Correspondence now draws very short; continue those exertions for which I have always has so much reason to be grateful to You. Love me, & not only that, but write to me & tell me so. Thank You for the choice of the Pattern, the one You have returned I think exceedingly pretty, & have written to Messrs. Litchfield & Graham to have it made up. I have also written this Morning to Mr Collingwood to know when his business is likely to be finished. He would not give me any Answer to my importanate (sic) enquiries when I saw him on Monday, but promised to give a guess on Thursday. I grow most extremely impatient to see You. You haunt me, You never leave [me] alone for a single Moment. Tell me Bess Am I as much missed? I hope, I think I am. On Monday Evening I accompanied my Sisters & Charles to a Ball; at Mr. Brownes. Your waistcoat was worn & admired by all. the Hatfield Uniform was put on with it. The Coat & appearance of the Countess herself at the Ball, brought to my Mind a circumstance & a pretty laughable one that happened at Fallodon on the appearance of that Uniform, of which You told me. It brought it to Charles's mind also, & he told me that Story but with some Additions; for You did not tell me the whole. You sayed it seems that You never would speak to me again. What said I, Charles was she in a passion? Passion says he, God damme she ran out of the room before I had half finished the Story, & told my Mother, & was in such a Tweague. I assure (you) We laughed heartily altho' at your expence. & altho' You were so harsh as to say that you would never speak to me again for an attachment that never did exist, & which, had it ever existed must have ceased before I was know to You; I heartily forgive You, knowing from my own sensations that You could not be in such a passion about a person for whom You were not a good deal interested. But remember my dear Bess what I once told You; no one has a share in nor claim to, my Affections but Yourself. You are the unrivalled Mistress of my Heart. In You I look for Happiness, You direct & govern my every thought, & as long as You choose to maintain that ascendancy it is in your Power, & were You ever to relinquish the Authority You now possess, You would break the Heart you despised to rule. The Countess asked many Questions of Charles, whether You were handsome, fat, thin. whether I was much in Love with You, or You with me? Every body congratulated me, & many observed how Reveur I was; but that sayed they was no Wonder.You may suppose that no great flirtation going forward, for Charles & I came home at least two hours & half before my Sister & Mary. I send You a Motto that was handed to me & deemed particularly applicable.- Yuarhee is here with Charles & a great favourite with the Old One. Una is expected & desired. We were out shooting Yesterday, & hunting with the Countess to day. I on a Whiskey Horse. Charles stays with Us the Rest of the Week, & I hope no longer. I forgo almost to say that I defended Una with a great Zeal against his Aspersions last Night. All Compts. & Love to You. Love me write to me avow me. God bless You my dear dear, very dearest Bess, Adieu & believe me ever Most Sincerely & affectly Your's & only Your's S.Whitbread Adieu ma tres chere ma bien aimee. Souviens toi d'un Amant fidele & sincere.!

item

Whitbread, Samuel II,
Grey, Elizabeth,
Grey, Charles,
Collingwood,
Whitbread, Mary,
Browne,
Litchfield and Graham

Essendon Bedwell Park, balls, waistcoat, dogs