Miʃs Gunning -- (M^rs Digby)  - S^t. James's      March 17^th 1789
Well my dear Friend, I am at length sitting down
to write to you -- il en est temps indeed -- I have
been lately in a continual hurly Burly a tourbillon
not of engagements or amusements I aʃsure you
nothing leʃs -- I believe the joy I have felt on the
King's recovery, & from the many concomitant circum[stances]
of that happy Event, has almost turned my head
at least it has confused it most extremely -- I
am beginning now to come to my senses again
and to think of the King well & his Government
firm and established as circumstances that
have always existed, & I only remember the
dreadful three or 4 Months that are over as a
horrid dream from which thank God I have
awakened, I trust for ever -- Indeed my dear
I could not bear to write, nay to think even
during that period -- I could have wished to have
slept & been insensible to all that was going on
about me -- it was miserable to exist at that
time, alone ones reflections were dismal &
heart breaking, in Society, one was sure of meeting
some unfeeling Enemies whose indecent &
inhuman language, was irritating & oppreʃsiv[e]
to the last degree -- now they are scarce silenc[ed]
& profeʃs to disbelieve the King's recovery, or to doubt
the continuance of his health -- the fact tho'
is, & thank God it is so -- that he never was
better in his life, or  -  more equal to busineʃs
as a proof of the strength of his mind & nerves
he has heard I believe every circumstance

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of the Duke of Yorks conduct, without that knowledge
having occasioned any thing like a relapse which
his most sanguine Friends always dreaded
if you were here by my fire side which I
heartily wish you were, & hope you will be
soon, I could tell you a thousand anecdotes
relative to this dear & good King whose
heart, magnanimity, & true amiable good
& great character was never so well known
before -- Oh! the thousand instances of generosity
of that true spirit of Christianity which forgives
injuries & frames excuses for the faults even
of our Enemies, that have come lately to
my knowledge -- at some future period
I hope to reenjoy the pleasure it gives me
to think over them by communicating them
to you -- the K. is now at Windsor, since
Saturday, th^t he called going home -- he
returns to Kew on Wednesday, the Queen you
know comes to the Draw: on Thursday to
receive I imagine the universe -- it is incon-
ceivable what the croud will be -- in the Evening
we give a Ball on this happy occasion -- a
small one it must be on account of our house
but it will equally testify our joy & satisfactio[n]
it has given new life & spirits to my Father --
he saw the King a week ago at Kew & found him
everything he could wish --
we have here a second winter -- hard frost, deep snow
indeed yesterday & to day it has changed to rain
but it is still very cold & miserable & I am not^[1]

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I have had a cough & cold these 3 weeks, the effe[ct]
of wrapping up as I have done this winter, I never
used to catch cold when I wore nothing, now if a
breath of air touches me I am ill --
the French Embaʃsador has begun to open his
House on the King's recovery -- I have been at two
suppers there & he is going to give a Ball, I was
at a very loyal & pleasant one at Ly Sidneys
on Friday given on this occasion -- they
are now beginning -- I intend going out of Town
as soon as ours are over (for we are to have two
one on the Monday after the first) to Richmond
to enjoy a little comfort and quiet -- I hope
by that time the weather will be more settled,
in  -  all this joy I sometimes forget the many
sources of misery or at least disquiet, I suffe[r]
from in my heart -- one of the most serio[us]
is perhaps my Brother's state of health [which]
is so indifferent that I never look at him [without]
friʃsoneing^[2] & he will not consult Turton --
there is the obstinacy of Men -- there is no
prevailing on them to do what is right if they
have even a fancy to object to it -- he has
no cough, but a slow fever & looks the picture
of death -- my Father & Bell are God be than[ked]
well. Miʃs Robinson is still w^th us & will I
believe continue about a fortnight longer
she is better, has had no return of her Cough
but I think has very bad health -- all desird
to be kindly remembered to you & Mr Dickens[on]
not forgetting dear little Louisa -- if you ask
me what I have done in the reading way I could
say little more than the newspaper the Pamph[let]
of the day & the subject, &except a great deal of German
which I have been deeply engaged in -- I have

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seen Mrs Walsingham twice -- she stays at
home on Miʃs Boyles account who hurt her Leg
& has been laid on a couch for these two Months
past -- she inquired much after you -- and was very
civil and gracious to me, but we are not coming on
or ever shall again -- all I wish is to be on terms of
civility w^th people of her character & disposition --
God bleʃs you my dear Friend -- remember me --

▼

I must say something of Mr Digby to you & f ---  his best
Comp^ts to you when I wrote -- he is better in health tho looking
ill -- still fixed at Kew & Windsor so that his Friends
have literally seen nothing of him this winter but for
mere moments -- he is acting a great & important part --
& has the satisfaction & reward of knowing himself to be
useful to his country as well as to those  ------  whose virtues
& friendships & kindneʃs attach him to them --
Whites club are going to gve a magnificent Ball on
the 27^th on the King's recovery at the Pantheon^[3] -- all
Friends are to be in a white & gold uniform w^th God
save the King in their head, as well as heart -- I will
write you an account of it after our Balls & hurry^[4] isare over

Mrs Dickenson
      Taxal
      Chapel le Frith
           Derbyshire^[5]
[6]
[7]