L30/12/35/148

Letter from Elizabeth Hume-Campbell (Lady Marchmont) to her son Alexander Hume-Campbell, Lord Polwarth. Three letters due from Alexander, and as the writer has not yet returned to going out in the evening, has very little news.

10 Apr 1770

From: 1770 To: 1770

Miss Halsey is to stay with Mrs [Agneta] Yorke all summer. Writer's father [Windmill Crompton] left last Thursday. Dr Fordyce thinks his face better than for some time. Went out with Alexander's aunt and cousin on Saturday and saw the Corsican Fairy [Madame Maria Teresa (sometimes spelled Teresia), one of the smallest woman in the world. By the time she was in her twenties, she had attained a height of a mere 34 inches and weighed just 26 pounds] 'a poor little starved creature, full as like a monkey as a woman.' Writer was a court on Thursday for the first time in two months. It was crowded and a vast number of fine brides presented. 'The Queen is most excessively big; I believe she is expected to lie in this month.' [Reference to birth of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of George III and Queen Charlotte]. Hopes to leave London as soon as Parliament rises, probably some time in May.

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Hume-Campbell, Elizabeth,
Crompton, Elizabeth,
Marchmont,
Halsey,
Yorke, Agneta,
Crompton, Windmill,
Fordyce,
Princess Elizabeth