2^d. July -- 1789 --
This day did not turn out as I prognosticated -- Ingles & I rode
to old Down 14 Miles from hence on the Exeter Road where we stopt -- I sent
his servant on to Stone easton the seat of M^r. Cox Member for this County.^[1]
with a Letter to M^r. Hipsley, who married M^r. Cox's sister^[2], who returned
us an Invitation to Dinner, as there were some doubts about this, &
our appetites not brooking any delay, we ransacked the Larder at the
Inn for Cold Meat, with which we were agreeably amusing ourselves
when the servant arrived, & tho all reasonable people w^d. have been per
fectly satisfied, yet an order was immediately given to put the Cavalry
in motion & to storm the Castle Sword in hand -- the gates were opened
and we received with great courtesy by the Deputy Governor M^r. Hip-
-sley,^[3] also by his Lady, who in the opinion of my brother Traveller, is a
perfect Goddeʃs -- ^[4] M^r. H. who is a clergyman, is a very well-bred Man, & his
manners are very engaging -- a M^r. Stroud (member for some place) & his
chubfaced wife^[5] & a very young Man with a Cockade in his hat -- also a
country justice arrived soon after us -- M^r. Cox did not make his ap-
pearance till we were sat down to dinner -- he is a very large Man, I suppose
weighs 22 Stone at least, seems active, his countenance is sensible & he
would have been handsome, but for his under Lip which is thick &
has in no play in its muscles -- he was very civil to us -- the dinner and
Wines were suitable to his fortune which is 16000^£ a year -- the conver
sation turned a little to politicks in which I took no part, but chiefly
to justice businiʃs, which at all times is a delightful Subject -- I had an op-
-portunity of enquiring after Lady Mordaunt, who is rather better -- we left
this Seat of plenty at ½ past 7 & had a cheerful ride thrō the pleasantest
Country I have hitherto seen -- which you w^d. have enjoyed equally w^th. me --
how often did I wish to hear you exclaim “M^r. D. M^r. D. look to the right; how
beautiful that Scenery!” &c &c -- I need not tell you how greatly this w^d. have
added to my pleasure -- 3^d/ I called upon Ingles at 8 -- we walked for ½ an hour
at 2 I met M^rs. I. as I was going to call upon them & went a shopping with her
which (entre nous) She receives greater pleasure from than her Husband wishes
I staid a little time with Ingles & took my leave of them as they set out this
afternoon for Lady Fusts to whom I sent Comp^ts- at my return home I
had the felicity of meeting with y^r- Letter of the 28 June -- & went immedi-
ately to the pump room to examine the list of arrivals -- the Pump Man told me
that at this time of the year Names were invented merely to make an appearance
of a long list of arrivals -- there was no Kinder, but a Dickenson, not my sweet Cozⁿ..
at 7 I called at the Rundells & went to M^rs. Milnes. Miʃs M. told me it was
very prejudicial to me to read or write or to be much occupied whilst I was drinkg
the water. She soon changed her opinon when I proposed to read a book to her &
her mother w^ch. She had recommended to me -- on history of the late revolution in
Holland -- with which She seemed much pleased & I promised to go there when
I can -- we began -- but c^d. not proceed, for the inceʃsant gabbling of a whist party --
I spent two hours very pleasantly & came home -- Miʃs M. charged me to say a 1000 civil

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things for the Hair for which She was more obliged to you than she c^d. expreʃs -- the first time
I called upon her was not by design, & had not that precious relick in my pocket; so
that I could give you no Acc^t. of its reception /4/ I bathed last night, & this morning called
upon M^rs. Holroyd & staid ½ an hour with her. She is much engaged in her attendance
upon an old Lady, who is very anxious to die, which She has been in constant expecta-
tion of for a considerable time -- M^rs. H. does not choose to leave her -- but as soon
as the Lady is dead -- M^rs. H. means to go to Ireland to spend a few months
amongst her own & some of our agreeable freinds -- I find M^rs. H.s principal
weakneʃs arises from family pride & the recent Nobility of their blood has by
no means diminished her self satisfaction -- she was exceʃsively laughed
at a few days ago by a party where I was -- but that does not take away from her
Merit -- She told me that M^rs. Hartley had thanked her for introducing me to her,
this was very flattering to me -- I left my Name at the Isted's & Vanbrugh's --
yesterday was the hottest day we have had this year, & this day again is cloudy
& will rain -- 5/ I meant to have gone to M^rs. Hartley's last night, but the
great quantity of rain that fell in the Afternoon made the air so damp that
I durst not venture out & I did not choose to be at the expence of Chair
Hire -- The Wetneʃs of this morning prevented my going to Church, how
ever I read a very good sermon of Tillotsons to M^rs. Davies & her Daughters
The weather cleared up at one & at 2 M^r. & M^rs. D. their two eldest Daughters
& I marched to a little Cottage about half a mile from Bath where we dined
with a M^r. Simpson -- a young Man of good fortune, who was a Lodger
here & has taken this place as a home in this neighborhood -- he
gives Claret &c -- I dont know what will become of us in a few years
for every young man with or without a fortune now can bear nothing
but Claret -- there is no Wine fit for a Gentleman to drink but that
precious Liquor -- the more this country is taxed & the more extrava
gant the inhabitants of this country become -- I must now
tell you of an agreeable circumstance which I am sure will
give you pleasure -- this morning when I was at the pump
room I had the satisfaction pleasure of meeting M^r. Sackville who
is come to make some stay, he informed me that Sir Rob^t. Herries
was in town who came up to us in a few minutes. Sir Rob^t. came
from Exeter yesterday -- I was really very glad to see M^r. Sackville as
there is no man for whom I have a higher esteem & he seemed equally
pleased to meet me -- M^r. S. is not well & Sir R^t. means to drink the
water for a week or ten days -- I believe Lady Herries has wrote to inform
you of the death of her lovely sister^[6] & you will be glad to hear that She
bears up under this affliction wonderfully -- She is to stay at Teignmouth
till Sir Robert can return & take her to Paris -- this information I had
from M^r. S. & he added -- it will be an excuse for S. R. to ride his Hobby again. I
think he does not approve of those frequent journeys -- it was lucky that Lady
H. could be with her Sister for being convinced, that if the poor Soul could live,
She must be a miserable Criple all her Life -- would induce the most

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affectionate heart to wish for her release -- Nina is tolerable M^r. S. supposes that
She may be kept nearly in the state that she is -- /6/ I called on M^r. Sackville at 9
& sat ½ an hour with him, Sir Rob^t. came in whilst I stayed -- I left them at breakfast
& came home to mine -- at 2 I met Sir Rob^t. in Milsom Street, we talked of
M^r. Sackvilles irresolution in not consulting a Physician -- for he had drank
only one small glaʃs of water & had been disordered the whole day -- & we con-
cluded the best way would be to send one to him -- as he had mentioned
D^r. Harington we immediately went to his house, where I left Sir R.
at 6 oClock I called & found them playing at Backgammon, M^r. S. said
in his good humored way -- that we had picked his pocket & that we ought
to have left it to him to determine whether he should throw away
any money in that way or not -- I played with M^r. S. in the course
of the game M^r. S. whistled having made a bad throw which reduced
him to a dilemma, & which is a common thing for an Englishman to
do -- Sir R. told us that if we were to whistle upon such an Occasion
      in France that we sh^d. undoubtedly be obliged to fight, &
      he gave us this instance as a proof of his aʃsertion -- L. Eglintown
      was at play in Paris & in a similar situation with M^r. Sackville
      whistled -- upon which the Frenchman tapped him on the
Shoulder & walked into another room, whither L^d. E immediately followed
him, supposing that the other wanted to speak to him -- but to his great
astonishment found him with his sword drawn & in an attitude
for fighting -- L^d. E. enquired into the cause of this & the Frenchman
told him that he had insulted him & must fight, L^d. E. asked what it
was that he deemed an insult, the other said that in France they whistled
to Horses & not to gentlemen -- luckily L^d. E. had not his sword or he might
have fallen a victim to French Punctilio, & before he c^d. procure one the
matter was made known & some sensible people explained to the hot
Frenchman the impoʃsibility of L^d. E's having meant any affront to him
from what might have escaped him involuntarily -- Sacville said he
was obliged to Sir R. for he certainly should have whistled if he had been
then in France -- I beat this good Creature & went to M^rs. Hartley's where
I had a pleasant reception & staid with her till 9. She desired to know
where I lived that she might send to me -- & lamented that you was not
in Bath -- I returned to my two friends, when we had a Rubber at
Backgammon which I won & left them at ten oClock -- I was not over
joyed to find our West Indians returned -- one of them, Capⁿ. Paris, mentioning the
punishments that are inflicted upon the Blacks, said that for capital Crime y^e- Convict
is always burnt -- for a Black man or woman will see their dearest relatives put
to death with the great^t. composure & will rather rejoice if they can have the body
to bury, for when a Black is buried they say he is gone home & are sure he is happy
whatever crimes he may have been guilty of -- so that Burning is the only punish
-ment that strikes their minds with any degree of horror -- this morning I met
M^rs. Holroyd in the Street who complemented me on the improvement of my looks
I called upon M^r. Rundell who invited me to dine there, but I excused myself for today,
& promised to dine with them on friday or Saturday -- he advised me to take ano-

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ther dose of Castor oil -- which I propose to do tomorrow -- he thinks it
will aʃsist the Waters very effectually -- I met M^rs. R. upon the parades
She has been much taken up with aʃsisting M^rs. Beavoir whose
Husband is dead & I found her giving orders for the funeral -- I have not
yet got M^rs. Piozzis Letters, but shall have them soon -- /7/ I am lying in today
and am as well as can be expected -- in my last I forgot to expreʃs my great
grief & concern which has mightily affected my spirits, for not hav^g brought
one of your Shoes with me; however we can ease my conscience by this means
      order Morrison, (dear Soul! what pleasing expectations may she not form
      in her mind from my return -- as I am every day reminded of her goodneʃs
      to me -- & she may depend upon my gratitude) to take an exact measure of
      the length of the inside of your shoe, which may be remeasured by a piece
of thread & a knot upon it (not such a knot as She dreams of every night) will ascertain
that important point -- then a string fitted exactly round the instep will clear that
difficulty, & also the number of miles & exact distance from the point of the foot to
the other point that covers y^r well turned instep will set this matter in so clear
a light that any number of Shoes may be produced in obedience to y^r commands
      Adieu my dearest, best friend -- write me another charming Letter & believe that
your D is the happiest Husband in the world -- M^r. Herschell is coming to me
to day as I c^d. not go to him -- I w^d. learn to draw, but I find my eyes are suff

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ficiently employed already -- Rauzzini is my next door neighbor -- but his
terms I am afraid will keep us at a respectable distance -- for it too much to
throw away upon my voice -- once more Adieu -- remember me most Aff^ly
to every Body -- & embrace our dear Child -- I am very well -- & shall be perfectly
so when I have dined/ --