L30/11/323/164

Letter from Agneta Yorke to Lady Amabel Polwarth, sent from London to Paris. [Typed transcript of part available].

15 Apr [No year 1778?]

From: 1778 To: 1778

Reference to the health of Lord Polwarth; writer had hoped the change of climate would have been more beneficial to his health than it has been. Suggests sea air, by taking journey from Nice to Marseilles by sea. If Lord & Lady Polwarth end their journey at Margate, the writer will be able to pay her respects immediately, as she is going to Margate at the end of next month on account of Caroline 'whose blood is in a heated state and stands in great need of cold bathing.' There will be a colony of Yorkes at Margate, as the Bishop's family are going, and Mr John Yorks with his daughter. Reference to sister Laetitia 'her two 'Brighthelmston Knights' are both departed fro the hostile shores of America. 'Mr [Anthony Morris] Storer took his leave of her last Sunday, but the inconstant governor departed without the least notice. Mr Storer seemed to repent that he had carried his friendship for Lord Carlisie so far. (Perhps you have heard that he declares it was not love of his country or the love of fame which tempted him to go with the commissioners - nothing but his unequalled friendship for Lord Carlisle, from whom he had never been parted and never would be.) When the moment drew near in which he was to bid adieu to Almacks [name of a number of establishments and social clubs in London], the savior vivre etc and his spirits sank; he made his Will, put his fine collection of prints in order, locked up his china (of which he has a large quantity) and to compleat [sic] the whole lost five hundred pounds at the gaming table.' [Note: Anthony Morris Storer (1746–1799) was an English man of fashion, Whig politician and collector. Storer became a prominent figure of London's social world. During 1778 and 1779 he was in America with Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle and William Eden.] Mention of marriage in the Heathcote family 'Miss Hessy will commence Lady Edmonston, and take upon her the case of the six children; it is lucky that there is no great danger of a second young family.' [Refers to marriage of Sir Archibald Edmonstone 1st Baronet of Duntreath to Hester Heathcote] Douglas's match with Miss Lochwood is off. He has had the misfortune to put his knee out by a sudden slip. Has recieved letters from Philip in Vienna; he sets out towards the end of the month for Italy. He has sent a miniature of himself for a ring and a large portfolio of various prints, cheifly portraits. He also included some sketches of his own. Mention of Lady Polwarth's drawings. Whereabouts of family members. The Duke of Hamilton is at last married. 'The Bampfields are decamped in a hurry, and their all is to be disposed of. Some say he has been drawn in to take up money in an unlawful way, which occasioned his sudden dissappearance; be it how it will, they held up their heads to the cast and appeared at Almacks the very night the bailiffs enteres their house, and decamped the next morning with only the clothes they had on theor backs......It is said she gave abond to the creditors for the loan of her jewels for one night's wear. Theirs has indeed been a short life but a merry one.' Sorry to hear Mrs Barker is plagued by rheumatism. Went to see the new opera La clemenza di Scipione; makes comment.

item

Yorke, Agneta,
Hume-Campbell, Amabell, 1st Countess de Grey, 5th Baroness Lucas,
Polwarth, Amabel Grey, Viscountess,
Lucas, Amabel, Baroness,
de Grey, Amabel, 1st Countess,
Hume-Campbell, Alexander (2nd Baron Polwarth),
Yorke, Caroline,
Yorke, James,
Yorke, John,
Beauchamp-Proctor, Laetitia,
Storer, Anthony Morris,
Howard, Frederick, 5th Earl of Carlisle,
Heathcote, Hester,
Edmonstone, Archibald (1st Baronet of of Duntreath),
Bampfylde, Charles Warwick,
Barker (d)

family correspondence, London, Nice, Marseilles, Margate, North America, specific marriages, rheumatism, opera