Thames Ditton 1783

                                                        
      The Day you left London I received a pressing invitation
from Mrs. Walsingham to spend a few days with her -- & she was so
obliging to offer to send her Chaise for me -- she wanted me
to come on Thursday & stay till Saturday when she told me
she would carry me to Mrs. Garrick's, where you know I was
to dine -- I could not comply with her request as I had
engagements but agreed to another proposition she made
of my going home with her on Saturday Evening (as she too
was to be of the party at Hampton) -- & staying till the
Wednesday following when I knew I could return to Town with
Mrs. Garrick who was to go there that day -- I spent an agreeable
day at Hampton -- our Party consisted of Mr & Mrs. Vesey Mr
Pepys, Mr. Walpole, Mrs. Walsingham Miss Boyle & a Mrs.
Flasby who was upon a Visit to Mrs. Garrick before we parted
Mr. Walpole politely invited me to his Villa & invited
the Company to meet me on that day week -- upon this
Mrs. Walsingham insisted so strongly upon my remaining with her
till that time that there was no refusing -- besides there
was another powerful inducement for Mr. Walpole had desired
me to come to Strawberry Hill two hours before dinner that
he might show me his Pictures &c &c & this I could not
perhaps have managed. you cannot
imagine how much Hero has made of me since I have
been her guest, & how very attentive, good Humoured &
polite she has been -- I really have wished for no addition
to my pleasure but having you with me -- & we have
talked & wished for you every day -- nay many times in the day
      She is very much pleased with this place, I do not wonder
at it after having been in the Castle with all the restraint
which naturally attends such a situation, for 15 Years -- here she
is sole Mistress -- & every thing around her being her own
property, it interests, & amuses her.
The House is comfortable & cheerful -- The Grounds -- but why
should I describe ( I am not clever in describing)

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I am very certain you will be much interested to know how
we spend our time
On Saturday Evening I accompanied Hero & Her Daughter -- we
came to Thames Ditton about ½ past 8 -- Hero showed me the
House & we walked in the Garden till near ten -- at that
hour we sup -- Miss Boyle goes to bed at ½ past 9. after
Supper Hero was very lively, we talked much of you,
and did not retire till 12. When she politely conducted me to
my room.
29th. June Sunday. I got up at 6 & as soon as I was dressed I went
into the Garden -- the Morning was heavenly -- I was joined
by Hero at ½ past 8, we walked together till 9 when the
Bell rings for Breakfast -- at 10 we separated & met
again at 11 to go to Church which is very near the House
it is a very pretty Country Church -- & we had a very
decent well behaved congregation -- the Clergymans appearance
was suited to it -- an amiable looking old Man with Silver
Locks, he read the prayers devoutly, & gave us a good
Sermon -- the Style unaffected and not above the comprehension
of his country parishioners -- The little Band of
Vocal performers quite excelled in singing the Psalms &
they sang an Anthem in a Manner far superior to what I
have ever heard in a Village Church.
we sauntered about the Garden, & Mrs. Walsingham showed me her domain
&c before dinner -- there is a Seat which commands a fine
View of the Thames, which is called the Medallion Seat, as
Miss Boyle has modelled a very large one which hangs in
the Centre Panel -- the Subject is, Hippolytus offering a
Chapelet to Diana -- on the side Panels are written these
beautiful Lines translated from the Hippolytus of Euripedes by
Mr. Bryant.
To thee, Bright Goddess, these fair flowers I bring:
A Chapelet woven from th' untainted Mead
Thy cool sequester'd haunt; where never yet
Shepherd approach'd; where the rude hind ne'er heav'd
Th' unhallow'd axe: nor voice, nor sound, is heard
Save the low murmuring of the vernal Bee.
                                                        

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The day-spring from above the dew distils,
Genial, & mild, from the pure stream exhal'd
On every fragrant herb, & favorite flower.
The original of this Medallion & verses are in the
Ionic Temple at Blenheim.
The Dinner hour is 3 o'Clock -- and the hours are kept to
strictly -- we separated from 3 till 6, when we drank tea under
some trees upon the Terrace which has the Thames running
under it -- at 7 we got into Hero's boat & were rowed for
near two hours nothing could be more delightful -- the
Evening was serene and you know how many beautiful
Objects there are on the Banks of this River -- when we
returned the fineness of the Weather tempted us to walk
& Hero took me round that part of the grounds which may
be styled ferme Ornée -- when we came in, we
read some passages in the life of the Duchess of Marlbrough --
we sat as late after supper as last night -- Hero
pays me a flattering Compliment in sitting up so late,
as she told me my conversation kept her up an hour
& half beyond her usual time.
Monday 30th. June Hero had the complaisance to take me
this Morning to see Hampton Court Palace as she found
I had never seen it, we went in the Phaeton (Miss Boyle also)
at 11 o'Clock -- I was agreeably surprised in seeing many
fine Pictures for I had understood that the King had
not left any worth notice -- I was also much better
pleased with the Palace than I expected to be for I
had been accustomed to hear it described (by the Royal Family
as a melancholy uncomfortable habitation -- I think
it on the contrary a magnificent and cheerful one as the Rooms are light & in fine proportion
the situation is certainly low, and the Garden in a bad
Taste -- the latter might be improved & I think one
might spend, that is if one was a King or Queen three
Months of the Year very pleasantly at Hampton Court.
we came home at 2 o'Clock that we might be ready to
receive Mrs. Garrick & Mrs. Flasby who were to dine here

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Mrs. Walsingham's Maid dressed my hair -- Mrs. Walsingham had desired me either
to bring my Maid, or let hers attend me -- I chose the
latter as I imagined it would be most agreeable -- she is
a Modest pretty Young Woman & dresses hair remarkably
well (you know why I mention this)
Mrs. Garrick entertained us extremely by relating the
manner in which Lady Burlington brought her up -- the
Style of life she led &c -- this I reserve for you
when we meet. We drank tea in the Medallion Seat. Mrs. Garrick
left us at 8 o'Clock & we passed the remainder of the Evening
the same as the last.
Tuesday -- I enjoyed the Cool of the Morning in the Garden
with my Book -- there is a retired quiet Seat where I hope
to spend some happy hours with you; -- as it is the one I
have chosen, it is to be called mine. Hero & Miss Boyle came to me
at ½ past 8. when Miss Boyle read a Chapter in the Old & one
in the New Testament & The Psalms -- this she always does
before Breakfast -- she does not read these appointed -- but
regularly through. after Breakfast we separate till dinner time
unless we meet accidentally. In the afternoon we went
to the Duke of Newcastles at Oatlands -- saw the fine
Grotto -- which has been finished about 4 years -- it cost 10,000 L
it is not well placed, but is extremely beautiful,
     it consists of four Rooms & a Cold Bath, it is ornamented
with taste, & is decorated with a profusion of beautiful
shells & spars, it gives one the idea that it was
intended for a Mansion for the Queen of the Fairies.
Hero was not able to walk far, so we did not see more of
the Place -- but we walked a little way in going to the Grotto upon the fine Terrace,
which you must have heard so much celebrated, it looks
down upon a Noble piece of Water upwards of a Mile
in length which the Duke made at a great expense.
We returned home about ½ past 8 Hero showed me her Kitchen Garden
&c &c she was so obliging as to play on the Harpsichord & Organ to me
before Supper -- after supper I read to her in Blairs new work
of the Belles Lettres -- have you seen this Book? I think
I shall like it, as I have comprehended what I have
read in it.

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July 2d. 1783 -- At 11 o'Clock Miss Boyle came & asked me if I
chose to assist at her lesson of Astronomy -- Mrs. Walsingham gave her
this lesson which lasted ½ an hour -- as She had an Head ache
& could not write &c. she desired me to go into her Dressing
Room & read to her which I did for an hour in Blair.
I then left her & when we met at Dinner she was better.
Mrs. Garrick came for me before 6 o'Clock -- I went in
the Ferry boat to the opposite side of the River where she waited
for me in the Carriage -- the Ferry boat is rowed by a Woman
who has no other apparent distinction of the Sex but wearing a single Petticoat,
as she has a Mans Hat, Shirt & Jacket -- I asked her how she
came to choose this employment -- she told me she did it
for amusement till she was 9 years old -- that an Uncle then
obliged her to do it till she was 16, & since then, necessity
forced her to continue it -- she appears about 40 & a most truly
Masculine figure she is -- Phillis, for that is her name, drinks
& swears like a Man.    I had a very agreeable airing to Town
with Mrs. Garrick -- the reason of going to London was a desire I had
of seeing Dear Mr. Glover who was going to Bath & taking leave
of my Aunt Warwick who sent me word she wished to see me
before she went into the Country -- I went to Mrs. Delany
as soon as I arrived, for I wanted to see the Duchess Dowager of
Portland before she went to Margate as her Grace had pressed
me to fix a time for going to Bullstrode in the Autumn,
I met her at Mrs. Delany & have engaged myself to go to
her at my return from Northamptonshire. when I came home
I found the Glovers -- Veseys -- Jacksons
assembled to receive me -- they supped with us & I spent
an agreeable Evening.
July 3d- I saw my Aunt Warwick -- had the Glovers to dinner
&c. Mrs. Garrick came for me at 6 -- when we arrived at
Thames Ditton found Mrs. Walsingham just returned from Windsor
where she had been the whole day , packing up
furniture -- she has given up her apartments to his
Majesty who I dare say is glad to have them again.
Hero seemed as delighted at my return as if I had been her
own daughter -- we spent a pleasant Evening together & did
not part til 12 o'Clock
July 4th-   I was again invited to the Globe lesson, & as I
do not understand Astronomy, or have forgotten what I did once learn I made a most contemptible
figure, for Hero would insist upon my doing some Problems,
I wished myself a hundred miles off -- I am determined

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to take some pains in learning it before I again go to
Thames Ditton she told me, & That I knew, how quick, how
clever, how well informed you were.
In the Evening we went by Water to a Meadow which belongs to
Hero -- where we sat upon the Hay Cocks & were very
Rural -- & sentimental -- repeating Verses -- &c
Hero played some of Handles Lessons upon the Organ before Supper
& after, we read the Criticisms of the Reviewers upon Blairs new
Work -- &c &c.
July 5th- I read & Wrote in the Garden till Mrs. Walsingham & Miss Boyle came down,
Miss Boyle read her Chapters as usual -- they then left me to my
employments till Breakfast time -- when I received your letter which had
travelled into Essex after my Servant had paid 6 pence postage, so
your scheme of Directing to Sir William at my house did not
answer -- the post Man insisted upon being Paid, & Mr. Wake
happened to call, the Servant gave him the letter -- Sir William opened
it, & Lady Wake sent it to me assuring me he had not read it -- Now do not imagine I
had not given orders, for I had, & had also told Sir William that
you were to direct your letters to me in that manner.
therefore till I can procure franks enclose to Mr.
Fraser, or your Maid to whom I suppose you have some.
I was much hurt to find by yours that you were again
tormented with the tooth ache au reste I was well pleased;
I can give you no comfort about my coming down and
am not a little disappointed in my hopes upon this
subject, for Lady Wake writes me word in the letter I have
received to day that Sir William is uncertain when he can
leave Essex & that he thinks he has business for a
Month to come -- if I could have known this, I would
have gone down with you, for I dread lest the uncertainty
of Sir William Wake should at last prevent me from being
at Horton when you can be there -- I will however
hope for the best. at ½ past 1 o'Clock we set out for Mr.
Walpoles and got Twickenham at ½ past 2. we had lost half an
hour of the two we were to spend in looking over the Pictures.
I shall not pretend to tell you all I saw -- for that is impossibly
have you ever been at this Villa? what a collection!
such Pictures -- Miniatures -- Antiques -- relics -- China &c.
&c. what would I not give to spend a Month in this
House to examine the various & valuable curiosities it

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contains -- I hope however to have opportunities of
seeing them as Mr. Walpole has politely invited me to come
as often as I chose, for I had only time to take
a transient view. Mr & Mrs. Vesey Mrs. Handcock Mr Pepys
Young Burke were the Party at Dinner -- I spent an agreeable
day & was much delighted with my Visit to Strawberry Hill,
we brought Mr. Pepys home with us to Thames Ditton --
Hero had so obligingly requested me to remain with her till
Monday that I could not refuse -- & indeed I had great
pleasure in so doing. Before & after Supper Hero
treated us with some of her Fathers Manuscripts -- Mr. Pepys
was very entertaining full of anecdote -- we were so
perfectly agreeable that we regretted the necessity of
going to Bed & did not retire till past 12 --
July 6th. Sunday Hero came to me before breakfast &
strongly pressed me to give her another Week of my company
but I excused myself without entering into reasons for she would not have thought them of weight as I had promised to spend a
few days at home as my amiable companion Miss Anna Clarke
was to leave Town in a few days & I knew she wished to
have me at home before we parted for the Summer. Hero
did not appear displeased but she seemed disappointed.
Mr Pepys seems to enjoy himself prodigiously & is really
an entertaining companion -- he is a great favourite of
Hero's. After Church -- our business was to show him the
House & Gardens this filled up the time till we went to
Dress -- In the afternoon we went by Water to Mrs. Garricks
at Hampton -- met there Mr. & Mrs. Wilmot Mrs. Morrice &
Mrs. Flasby -- Mrs. Wilmot looks wretchedly -- he appeared in
good spirits -- I quite won his heart by taking notice of his
Dog -- we drank tea in Shakespeares Temple and were
all very merry till a Shower of Rain made Hero look
grave -- some distress's in our return home will make us
laugh when we meet to talk it over

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