L30/11/339/17

Letter from Mary Yorke to Lady Amabel Polwarth, sent from Forhampton. Writer now in a state of tranquility with travels concluded, visits over and sons at school. Reference to 'Welsh expedition'.

Sep 1774

From: 1774 To: 1774

Comments on the dress of the Welsh females, the manner of carrying their children, the pins they make use of to fasten their clothes being nothing but thorns, and their laborious industry; a contrast to the mens idleness, who do nothing but fish in little coracles which they carry on their backs from shallow to deep water. Mention passing the property of Thomas Mansel Talbot, but the rain was so insistant that there was no possibility of stopping to see the famous orange trees. The weather began to mend by the time they reached Chepstow 'the only truly romantic place I saw in my whole tour'. Considered thesea views on the Welsh coast much inferior to the Kentish. Description of the area around Monmouth, where 'English was again spoken by the common people.' 'Mr Pennant entirely condemns the Duke of Atol's flower plots and Mr Rice would faint at the sight.' [Probably a reference to Thomas Pennant, naturalist].

item

Yorke, Mary,
Maddocks, Mary,
Lucas, Amabel, Baroness,
de Grey, Amabel, 1st Countess,
Hume-Campbell, Amabel, 1st Countess de Grey, 5th Baroness Lucas,
Talbot, Thomas Mansel,
Pennant, Thomas

family correspondence, Wales, oranges, Chepstow, Monmouth