15

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                             20 Feb^ry 1790 Old Burlington S^t-
Saturday
      I waited till the post arrived with y^r-
much wished for Letter -- I then dispatched mine to
you & set off to Chelsea -- there I could not stay more
than ten minutes, to give directions to the Carpen-
-ter about Packing Boxes &c -- & returned to town to
dreʃs for dinner -- at 4 I went to y^r- Uncle's M^r: Hamilton^[1] -- Pachierotti
came in soon after me & dined there -- the Afternoon
paʃsed as usual -- at 8 L^d. Warwick -- the Bishop of Kil-
-more & M^rs. Jones, y^e Bishopeʃs -- M^r. & M^rs. Piozzi and
M^r. Pemberton came -- Pⁱ & Miss H——amilton sang a Duet
& Piozzi joined them in a terzato^[2] w^ch. far exceeded any
thing I have heard before -- At 11 we separated
I desired L^d W—— Warwick to set me down at his door and
he good naturedly brought me home --
      Sunday -- This morning by appointm^t-
I met M^r. Kershaw my Coach Acquaintance
at Old Slaughter's Coffee House where we breakfasted
at 9 -- then walked forth -- & called first at M^r. Hern's
who's paintings we did not see as he was in bed
we called at M^r. Craig's we obligingly shewed us
his drawings -- this young Man has discovered
this method, of keeping water colors wet for
2 or 3 days, so that they have the advantage of
Oil -- next we called on M^r. Farrington who's manner
of Drawing is in a very different stile -- he very
obligingly opened all his Port Folio's, & attended
us to M^r. Webber's, another Artist, who accompanied
Capt. Cook -- here we saw another manner of
drawing -- after examining his portfolios we all --

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went to M^r. Sandby's where we staid an hour -- then we
spent a little time at old Serres's^[3] looking over some
of Vandervelt's schetches^[4] & his own paintings -- afterwards
we separated to dreʃs for dinner -- I met M^r. Kershaw
M^r. Farrington M^r. Webber & M^r. Herne at Slaughter's Coffee
House where we dined -- soon after 7 I left them & went
to A Maria's where I found C^r Palombi -- at 8 he & I went
to Sir R^t H—— Herries I introduced him to Sir Rob^t. & L^y H who
was properly attentive to him -- I desired M^rs. Carter w^d.
give me leave to introduce y^e- C^r. to her -- M^r. Walpole
who sat next to her -- exclaimed “for God's sake dont intro
duce him to me for I'm sick of Foreigners” -- w^ch. cooled me
affectually -- so I let poor Palombi remain unpre-
sented -- that Coxcomical puppy Pindemonte^[5] was
there & affected to treat Palombi with the “Haut ten bas”^[6]
I fancy the fellow perceived that I did not like him, for
he w^d. not look at me -- his sagacity was suff^t to
find out that -- thō it did not prompt him to leave a room
when he found himself an intruder -- indeed I dont wonder
at people's dread of foreigners -- for they stick to you like
Bird Lime -- there is no poʃsibility of shaking them off
& they are much complained of -- at 9 C^r P. Palombi set me down
      Monday -- This morning I paid Owen's bill for the
B ---  water^[7] -- walked to the bottom of Fleet Street
to buy some useful articles of Household Luxuries to
please my own self -- went up to Eagle St^t Holborn
about my picture frame -- from there we walked back thrō
Lincoln's Inn -- called at L^d. Mansfields, who is at Caenwood^[8]
came to M^rs Jacksons & from there to Chelsea -- I saw
most of my things put into Cases -- left the others in train
& walked to town at ½ past 4, dreʃsed & took a Coach
to Portland place at 5 -- I sh^d. tell you that L^d. S. Stormont called on
me yesterday when I was out -- L^y. S. Stormont sent out her fine little

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Girl^[9] to me -- but unfortunately y^e- Damsel was sleepy -- a little
before 6 when I had nearly read this Pamphlet ag^t. y^e- Test Act
M^rs- Graham & Miʃs Cathcart came -- We sat down to dinner
yet L^d. S did not come from y^e- House of Lords -- at 6 -- soon after
wards he came -- he told me that he had reserved a ticket for
Hastings's trial^[10] for me if I chose to go -- it was a very polite attention
before I came away he told me if I prolonged my stay he hoped
to see me again & ran after me to y^e stairs to desire his beʃlove
to you -- L^d. S's civilities to me are particularly flattering
I am sure it owing to his attachment to you -- it must
be so for I cannot entertain or amuse him -- or be useful
to him -- at 8 I came away -- when I got to Cavendish
Square it began to rain & before I c^d. get to a stand of
Coaches my sweet person was wet to the Skin -- so I
trugged on to Burlington S^t. as fast as I c^d. & changed
my dreʃs --
      Tuesday -- at 8 I went to AMaria's to tell her that
it was impoʃsible for me to fulfil my engagement of
meeting Palombi at her house to breakfast this morn^g as the
Cart was to bring the things from Chelsea at 9 & they men must
be attended to, as I c^d. not leave 3 or 4 men to themselves in Mr J's
house -- we arrived at y^e- Bell in Wood S^t. before one with our
Goods & Chattels -- W^m. Ben met me there -- it was past
3 before I c^d. prevail upon the people to weigh y^e Goods
wh^ch they evaded by one excuse or other, the reason for
it I know was to charge me 4 or 500 lb w^t. more than
there really was -- as it is youll think there is quite
suff^t- & I hope they will come safe -- I shall --
receive great pleasure from seeing you occupied
in arranging your shells, foʃsils &c & the eagerneʃs
of our dear Child's perplexing aid in decomposing
y^r- management -- Dear little Soul, How I love
her -- not entirely for herself -- but because she
is the Daughter of my dear Mary -- indeed my
Love the only merit I will allow my self to poʃseʃs
is that of having discernment enough to be sensible
of y^r- very superior worth -- & in loving you infi-

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nitely more than every earthly consideration --
I returned to M^r. Jackson's at 4 and dined with him -- he is
gone out for an hour or two -- which I am employing in scribbling
to you -- It is not improbable but I may have the
happineʃs of seeing you before you receive this -- In case
that should not happen -- & that I may be prevented from
leaving Town -- before as soon as I propose to do -- I
must inform you that the Goods will arrive at Horridge^[11]
I believe on Wednesday next -- when a Cart must be
sent to meet y^e- waggon -- & in a small box no. 13 you will
find the Keys of most of the Drawers --
      Wednesday -- at ten I went to L^d. Warwick's -- he & all y^r- family
have had the bad cold that every body complains of -- I did
not see Lady W—— who has seen nobody for a fortnight I
believe her principal complaint is owing to a young
Impertinent^[12] -- I saw the Children -- & without exception
must say, that they are the finest family I ever saw -- all
equally docile good tempered & affect^e -- L^d. W—— was very pleasant
& very friendly -- I staid with him till past 12 -- I left my name
at L^y. Herries -- then called on M^r. G. Foote with whom I paʃsed
an agreeable hour -- he informed that a certain person had The Prince of Wales
highly offended a great many people a few days ago, by
keeping them waiting for 2 hours before he made his ap-
pearance to those who came to pay their respects to thim
at his Levee there was a general grumble & a general squeeze -- many
talked of returning, supposing that a mistake had been made
in the day &c -- all were dissatisfied -- there were a great many
confined in a room together -- w^ch. made some seriously ill --
I left my name for Sir Rob^t. Gunning & for L^y F. Harpur
was let in at M^r. Walpoles -- I found him distreʃsed by a
country parson, who was consulting him about a manuscript
which lay before him -- M^r. W——s advice w^d. soon have driven
me away -- but he persevered & sat me out -- M^r. W—— said many
kind things for you & sent you some publication w^ch. I
have in my pocket -- but have not yet seen even the title page
as you may judge presently -- I paid my comp^ts. to the
Bloʃsets, who appear very well -- then left my name for

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M^rs. Carter -- M^r.- M^rs.- & Miʃs Iremongers -- at Miʃs Bowdler's
I found M^r. Sackville -- where I found the Acc^t. confirmed of
the complaint ag^t. a certain person the Prince of Wales L^y Herries came
in -- she said she had ten thousand things to say to you
but her eyes were not well enough -- her general state
of health is certainly better than for many years -- & she
looks very pretty -- I intended to have dined w^th- them
today, but I found AM—— w^d. not be pleased if I did not
dine once w^th- her, & this is the day she fixed on -- at L^y
Cremorne's I left my name -- was let in at M^rs. Boscawens
where I found L^y Bute, L^y Camelford, & M^rs. Lewisham Gore -- M^rs.
Boscawen said many civil things -- I left my name for
      M^rs. Digby who lives at the next door -- also for
      L^y Beaumont -- for C^r Palombi -- & 3 at M^r.
      Hamilton's -- at M^rs. Montagu's gate, I met
M^rs. Boscawen -- where we left our names -- then I went to
Wimpole S^t. saw M^rs. Christie & one of the Miʃs Longhams -- left
my name for the Cap^t. -- then called at the D^ʃs. of Atholl's
in Hanover Square, for whom I left my name -- was
admitted at M^rs. Glovers, where I staid a ¼ of an hour --
and am now writing to you from AMarias -- she is
very well -- & desires her Love -- poor Soul ( -- she dare not
leave her charge^[13], wh^h is a serious trouble to her --
      I am very well, I aʃsure you -- & shall now have the
Happineʃs of returning to my Mary's arms very soon
I will not tell you when I mean to set out -- not by
way of surprising you -- but not to awaken y^r- affectionate
solicitude for my safety from the perils of a stage Coach
Adieu best of Wifes -- & most amiable of women
You are & for ever will be most tenderly beloved by your own JD
Dear Louisa -- God bleʃs her --

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^[14]
London
                             February twenty fourth
                                                         1790
      M^rs. Dickenson
                             Taxal
                             Chapel le Frith
                                                         Derbyshire
Warwick^[15]