20 July 1789 -- Bath N^o. 18 Queen's Square
      In the afternoon I went with Major Murray M^r. M^rs. & Miʃs
Davies & M^r. & M^rs. Deering to Lincom Spa where we drank Tea I
thought of your going to this place with your dear friends every step of the
Way -- how happy I should have been to have had you with me -- You
I have not mentioned M^r. & M^rs. Deering before -- she was Miʃs Basta,
M^rs. Glover's acquaintance, who married an Irishman -- there never was
a Match of that kind that turned out better -- he poʃseʃses enormous me
rit in his behaviour to her -- his attentions are delightful & seem to come
from the heart -- She doats upon him as she ought to do -- He lived in their house
for a considerable time before he married & M^rs. Davies gives him an excellent
Caracter -- they have a house in the Square & are very intimate w^h- this
family -- 21/ I sat some time with D^r. Fothergill this morning, and
Drank Tea with the Isted's -- they told me that M^rs. Milnes (who a day or two ago
sent her Cards of Thanks) had had a relapse & was to go to Bristol the next
morning -- I went immediately to make my enquiries -- whilst I was talk^g
to the Servant Miʃs M. heard my Voice & sent an order for my admittance
She said she wanted to see me & did not know how to contrive it -- She seemed
greatly distreʃsed as She had given up all expectations of M^rs. M's recovery
who's disorder is an inflammation upon her Lungs -- She has sat up with
her constantly & has scarce ever taken her clothes off -- & seems quite worn
to a Shadow -- I make no doubt but she will suffer materially in her health
whether her Mother dies or recovers -- I staid 20 minutes & left a Lady
with her -- (She sent her Love to you) and returned to the Isted's where
I staid till 9 oClock -- the Isteds have taken a house for the Season I can't call
it Summer, about 8 miles from hence & one from M^rs. Methuen's -- I promised
to spend a day with them, & they promised to take me to M^rs. Methuen's^[1] -- 22/
I called on the Rundells this morning -- at 8 I went to M^rs. Hartley's by appoint
-ment & found there M^rs. Farmer, M^rs. & Miʃs Egerton & y^e- 2^d Miʃs Isted -- they went
away before 10 & then I had a pleasant Tete a tete with M^rs. H. till eleven; we had Jellies
& biscuits for our supper -- She spoke of young M^r. Lockes extraordinary Genius
for painting & promised to shew me some of his sketches -- She said that he never
had a Master -- but had had very great advantages from his Eye being accustomed
from his earliest infancy to see the most perfect Models & the finest paintings
M^rs. Locke told her that when he was at Rome & only 4 Year's old he shewed a pre
dilection for fine statues which he would have stood gazing at for hours -- his
Taste was formed so early that every figure he draws is beautiful from its
perfect symmetry -- when he was very young his natural turn was for
the most horrid subjects, one of which she described -- the subject was his
own invention entirely -- a witch was supposed to have killed a woman & her
two Children in a Cottage -- the poor Husband on his return home is suffered
to take up a Child in each arm which hang in delightful attitudes -- & the
woman in her last agonies grasps his by which the Man seems totally in
sensible of & he appears to stand petrified with horror or grief -- the Witch was
finely described with a bloody dagger in each hand seeming to tread on Air
and to enjoy the horrid Scenes with an Air of Diabolical Exultation all
this was so exquisitely finished, that it made an impreʃsion on his mind &
a Servant, luckily going into his Room after he went to bed, found him
in a state of violently agitated Spirits -- for he fancied that he saw the Scene
which he had described paʃs before him in reality, & they were obliged to
give him something to raise his Spirits & to stay in his room till he

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he fell aʃleep -- M^rs. H. says that his Fancy, Taste & Execution can hardly
be equalled -- She mentioned several little anecdotes which I hope to recollect
by way of expelling y^e- Ennui when y^r- pauvre mari returns to you --
23/ I breakfasted this morning with D^r. Fothergill & at my return I
had the delight of receiving yours of the 18^th- Yes my dearest dearest
Mary, I will go to Lady Fust's -- & go or do any thing & every thing that
you desire or can wish -- it is impoʃsible for me to tell you how sincerely
I love you & how dear you are to my Heart -- God bleʃs You -- best of Women
      What a Gadabout M^rs. Morrison is become -- I hope she is amused -- I
am very fond of her -- how I admire Louisa's attention to her Dormouse
with what eagerneʃs she will shew it to papa -- I will bring her
something from this place, but I am at a loʃs to know what w^d. be most
acceptable to her -- Tho the conduct of L^d. W—— may appear unkind -- yet I think
it on many Acc^ts. justifiable & even right -- he cannot shew himself to be a
zealous friend to government without exerting his influence to the utmost
in its behalf -- I could not have supposed that there had been so much firm-
neʃs of Character -- but in weak minds there is generally to be found the great
est degree of opiniatrete^[2] -- I dont mean entirely to direct that Idea to him
because there is sense & parts, as well as Levity & some thing Hamiltonian
if you will allow the expreʃsion -- in his Character, which makes it a
complete Medley -- I feel an attachment to him & should receive great plea-
sure in an opport^y of manifesting it -- & am sorry that he is not generally
liked -- which a proud, reserved Man can never be -- if L^d. W. acts from patriotism
he is right -- or if he looks forwards to his own Children's interest he is right
to shew himself an active friend -- but if he acts from personal resent-
ment or caprice I should condemn him -- How perfectly I see our dear
L^y. Frances looking & talking over the alterations of her house -- how
much she would have to say & how busy she will be in Idea -- I really love her
& I dont wonder that my Mary is the first upon her List -- I staid at home all
day -- 24/^[3] I did not go to any of my Masters this morning -- for reasons w^ch.
I shall explain tomorrow -- I sat writing Italian &c for 7 hours without
intermiʃsion except a visit of more than ½ hour from D^r. Fothergill
at 7 I went to y^e- Vanbrughs, & found there a large party of Humdrums
& tittering Miʃses -- I staid an hour & went to M^rs. Hartleys where I
found M^rs. Holroyed, whom she invited on purpose to meet me -- also
Lord Scarborō & a Clergyman whose name is Bosnet -- Lord S. seems to
have drank his senses away -- I believe he was sober, but he talked
an abundance of Nonsense, in so low a tone of Voice & so slow, that it kept
alive all one's attention to gueʃs even at his meaning  ------------ 
 ------------  but his engroʃsing all the conversation made me wiʃh
him -- I wont say where -- but only for a minute -- our conver-
sation was stupid -- at ten une Table service avec une tres jolie
petite Soupe came into the room -- upon Castors -- M^rs. Hartley was
wheeled to it & we all took our places -- I had no sooner seized upon
the Leg of chicken than L^d. S: began to tell a ridiculous story about
his refusing to say Goose when a Child & his punishment for
the act of disobedience -- he rang the changes of his manner of
spelling Go-go-Goo-goo-Goose-Doose -- & so on with Do-D:oo. &c till
I was ready to burst & was obliged to run from the Table -- & give way
to a violent fit of laughing -- M^rs. Hartley could hardly support her

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herself & poor M^rs. Holroyd made faces -- all this time Lord S: sat staring
with the most perfect Sang froid with his hand clenched except one soli-
tary finger which was alternately applied to the corner of one Eye or
his mouth -- this ridiculous story continued for half an hour -- at
eleven we all came away & contrary to my usual custom -- wI went
to bed sober -- 25/ I am all alive & in excellent Spirits this
morning, from which I give you leafve to conclude that it has not
been the case with me lately -- I will run back for a few days -- on
Tuesday morning I found my self very uncomfortable -- I perceiv'd
that Bathing increased my Irritation & shattered my Nerves
my appetite was gone & I had a tightneʃs & pain in my head
from all which I inferred that my health was in a retrograde
Motion -- I hastened, after my resolution was taken, to D^r. Fo-
thergills, whom I luckily found at home -- we went thrō the
Cerimony of the watch & pulse &c questions & Answers -- The
D^r. told me that he thought Antemonials would not answer
so well for me, as Acids which he meant to try -- he said that
the degree of heat of the Bath ought to have been properly
regulated, that from the heat of the Atmosphere -- the water
in which I had bathed, had been many degrees too warm -- he
      desired me to go home & take an Emetic directly
      which [I d]id but no Bile appeared -- & in half an
      hour I took some of the Acid -- which had almost
      an immediate Effect -- for since Tuesday the Itching
which was become intolerable has to almost totally been asleep
and I have not a doubt but it will have the Complaisance to bid
me a friendly Adieu before I leave Bath -- my appetite returned
the next day & I called to thank the D^r. for having made me so
happy -- I may use that Expreʃsion -- as lowneʃs of Spirits creates
real Misery -- for the unfortunate Martyr -- sees Devils of all
Colors & shapes dancing before him -- I had not had the honor
of being introduced to such company, but was en train -- I
must return to D^r. F—— whom I could not persuade to take a Fee
his answer was “No, no, what I do for you, you must attribute to old
Freindship” -- he desired me to breakfast with him on Thursday --
when I called on Wednesday he was not at home -- Now for another
matter -- pbut first I must kiʃs your fair hand & lead you back
again to Monday when a Gnat had the impertinence to feast upon
my Leg -- I took no other notice of this presumption, than to
form a resolution not to touch the polluted part -- Tuesday
I wore my Boots all day & at night found my Leg violently
inflamed & the head of the swelling rubbed off -- I applied spirits
of Wine & water the next day without Effect -- on Thursday Morn^g
D^r. F—— desired to look at it & ordered me to take an Aperient
& to save a day, at 12 oClock -- this was a new Kind of Salt, very
powerful in the Diuretic way -- & thrō the whole proceʃs, the least
unpleasant of any operation of that Nature I ever experienced --
The D^r. said -- the inflammation was owing to the water's having forced

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the Bile to the Surface of the Body -- on weds M^rs. Hartley desired me
to put a poultice to it which I did -- & kept one upon the Leg till yesterday
morning when I found the place healed -- Now Madam you may
Acc^t. for my poor Legs having a Holliday, & may also suppose that
they are returned to their usual occupation of capering & kicking
at every obstacle -- poor Hannah More wrote me a kind note
to say “the Gates of the Castle should be thrown open to receive
so renowned a Knight” -- I have the Vanity to think she will
feel for my disappointment -- I wrote to her on Thursday to let
her know -- that I w^d. go to Cowslip Green the first day I could
put on a Boot -- I repeated the offer of a Fee to D^r. F which
he again refused -- however I will tender him five guineas before
I leave Bath -- which he probably will not accept -- he seems
pleased with being consulted by me -- I shall scribble to
you all day -- I happy I sh^d. be to talk to you & to see you my
dearest Mary -- I fancy that Louisa often visits “Iza's own
pitty vole” & that she is often in the Hay feild with

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Grandpapa -- we have not had one fair day day since monday, &
enjoy ourselves every Evening over a snug fire -- pray send me
a recipe to make a Chartreuse pie^[4] -- in return for which you shall
have one for a pie that will please M^r. D -- Now dont be figitty
about me -- I am every day complimented upon my good Looks
& never felt my self better than I am at this moment which
is the most agreeably employed in subscribing myself, my
charming wife's affectionate & faithful -- J——D——
Kiʃses in abundance for my own Louisa -- & Love
to Ampa --
                                                         25^th July Saturday^[5]

My return must now depend upon D^r. F—— -- My leg is quite well -- ^[6]