From November 30: 1783
              to
           December 5.. 1783

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                             Sunday 30th. November 1783
                                                         Continued
she breakfasted, only stayed a few Minutes
I sat with Mrs. Delany till they came
to inform me the Bell for prayers was rung.
about 1 o'Clock. I talked with her about Miss
Clarkes -- my first acquaintance there
Uncle &c. read her part of Mrs.
Lenton & Anna Maria Letter. Mr. Mackay the Cook
came to her to ask what she would have
for dinner. we talked a little about
Lord Edward Bentinck & his Wife/
Miss Cumberland that was. &c &c
she is with Child. I went up to Prayers Mr
Dewes was in the Gallery had a few
Minutes converse with him. the Duchess
soon after came out of her apartment
went to Chapel. Mr. Lightfoot preach
a good sermon. After Chapel he came
up (he goes to Town & we shall not
see him or have prayers till next
Sunday. After Chapel went to my room
wrote. my Journal. about 3 Mrs. Delany
sent for me again -- the Duchess had been
with & just left her. she showed me
some original drawings of a Miss
Letitia Busche a friend of hers
when she lived in Ireland &c
Mrs. Hamilton an Amiable Woman

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both these ladies were great
friends of & lived much with
Mrs. Delany. very sensibly &
ingenious -- Mrs. Delany told in what a
pleasant style she lived -- among
other things -- in her drawing room
which was a very large room & had
a fine View from the Window.
in this Room were books,
Musical instruments, different
kinds of Works. & a large Round
table which ten or twelve people
might sit round. upon which Pen
ink. Paper. Materials for
Drawing; scissors for Cutting out
&c &c. Mr. Dews came to us
& we sat looking over this drawing
till 4. Mrs. Delany gave me a pretty one.
the Servants came to lay the Cloth in
her room. as she was dine quietly
after having been let Blood. Mr.
Dews & I quitted her -- he came
with me into my dressing room
for a moment. whilst I put up
the little drawing. we went upstairs
together. & sat talking for near

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3 quarters of an hour. upon different
subjects. the Duchess came & we went to
dinner -- our conversation was chiefly
of Spa. Convents. religious orders &c
the Duchess & I went into the Drawing Room
about ¼ past 6. Dear Mrs. Delany was
there. she assured us she was better
she had been blooded. the afternoon
& Evening was spent as agreeably as
all the former ones have been.
Mr. Dews finished the Manuscript
Diary -- or she Lady Dorset terms it
the Chronicles -- of that Lady. many
curious anecdotes it contains
her persecutions about her possessions
in Cumberland death of L Chi --- 
& James the 2d. Queen. &c &c
Mrs. Delany went to her Room about ten
was to sup below. Mr. Dews went
with & stayed ¼ of an hour. the
Duchess read me a Curious account
in Manuscript of Lady Carlisles
ye. present Lord Carlisles Mothers
writing of Buxton the style of living
it was in prose written with
some humour. the Duchess said she
thought it the best thing she had ever

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written. when Mr. Dewes came in
the Room again I went to mine
till Mr. Keys came to call me
to Supper. for I thought the Duchess
might wish to speak to him
alone (he is to leave us tomorrow
before Breakfast) when I came
up again the Duchess went to her
room to finish a letter. Mr. Dews
& I read some two or 3 Manuscripts
letters of Prior's which the duchess
had left for us. the Duchess has
many valuable Manuscripts
in her possession -- which she
inherited from her father
Lord Oxford. this Nobleman
was a poet friend of Priors.
she returned we went to Supper
¾ past ten. sat till ½ past 11.
conversed about Prior, his origin
In the Course of conversation the
Duchess said Bagley should have
been hers. we talked during

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the Evening of Lord orford. when
he was a Young Man having had
a scorbutic tumour broken out
upon his Stomach an ignorant
Apothecary advised him to put
on a Mercurial Girdle, this drew
the humour up to his head, & he
poor Man was insane for a long
time, he is still odd. the Duchess gave
me the Character of a Woman who
lived & does I believe still live
with him, her tenderness attention
& care of him during his illness
-- & related an anecdote of her that
does the poor Woman great honour.
he had given her 1500 Pound before
his insanity -- she had the management
of the family & used to pay the Bills
when he was in that state no
money was given her to discharge
the Bills & as she could not bear
to have left unpaid she expended
all this money in the discharge
of House Accounts. what does
this faithful woman merit
from his family for her
disinterested attention! Blast

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ye too rigid unfeeling Moralists
-- this Woman has surely
more real Virtue than many
honourable females I could
Mention. had I time or
the Memory I wish, how many
useful, entertaining anecdotes
I could embellish my Journal
with during my Abode in
this house.
I paid my Compliments of farewell
to Mr. Dews & wish the Duchess good
night about ½ past. 11. whilst
I was undressing I was not
a little pleased with Bettys
Conversation -- surely it is an
innocent & laudable vanity
to listen to commendations
of this Sort not only as it
encourages one to
endeavour to render

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oneself worthy of being esteemed
but gives such universal
satisfaction by behaving in
a civil pleasing manner
towards every individual
of Society. it seems all
the Duchess of Portland Servants are
quite delighted with me,
& they give so fair a report
of me to the other that
they contrive to put themselves
in my way to see
me. when I was for example
in Mrs. Delany Room this
Morning the Man Cook came
to her to enquire what she chose
for dinner -- I happened
to address myself to him
to add something to what she
ordered -- the Man was quite

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charmed, (to use Bettys words
with my manner, & said he
gave credit to all he had
heard of me. Mrs Woodward
the Housekeeper said that
she wished ye. Duchess could prevail
with me always to live with
her -- to which all the Servants
in the Stewards Room joined them
Betty told me there were above
120 Rooms in this House & above
70 at Whitehall. I put her
as usual to Bed & sat up reading
& writing till one o'Clock.
I sent a letter &c to Anna Maria
this Evening
The Duchess showed me this Evening
a  ------  Box which contained 4 Pictures
finely Painted by Zinks enamel
-- Mrs. Delanys was highly finished
& still like new. Mrs. Montagus
Lady Andovers. & Miss Dashwood

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Bullstrode 1783 December 1st:
sent to enquire after Mrs. Delany
heard she had a greatly good Night
after I was dressed wrote some of my
Journal. Mrs. Astley Mrs. Delanys
Maid came for me to Breakfast
she told me she thought Mrs
Delany had found benefit from
the bleeding Yesterday. I went
it was ½ past 9, to Mrs. Delany room
I thought her rather low.
during Breakfast we conversed about
Mrs. Montagu. Mrs. Delany gave me
her opinion of her Character
the obligations she had had to the
Duchess -- it was not a favourable
Portrait of her. talked of
My Uncle Fredericks Wife. & my
Cousin Miss Hamilton. Mrs. Delany made
judicious remarks. upon artful
characters. Gave me excellent
advice how to guard against them
told me how she had suffered by
meeting with one in the late Lady
Lansdowne her Uncles wife. I left her ¼ past

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10 o'Clock Came to my Room, found the
Groom of the Chambers there
who was placing my Candles
for the Evening Mrs. Woodward the
Housekeeper sent a Message
by Betty to say she wished to have
the pleasure of seeing me, I
said I should be glad to see her
she came was very civil hoped
I wanted nothing &c &c.
I stayed in my Room & read &
wrote till past 12 o'Clock -- went
to Mrs Delany I read to her out of my Manuscript
books & she showed me some & gave
me some to copy, in the course of conversation
she told me that she meant to leave her
Letters & papers to the Eldest Mr. Dews & her
pictures to Mrs. Port & told me a circumstance
of Mr Dews which did him much honour as it
proved his disinterestedness. the Duchess came
to see Mrs. Delany. she told me she had given orders
about a Horse for me to ride & ordered one of her
Grooms whom she most confided in for ease
to be always ready to attend me when I
chose to ride I left her with her friend, came
to my room read over the Manuscripts Mrs
Delany had lent me. & began to copy those

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she had permitted me to transcribe.
it was a foggy day & we did not go
out airing. Mrs. Delany came & sat a
few Moments with me & then I followed
her upstairs we sat in the Drawing room
the Duchess was much employed in writing
letters but to come backwards & forwards
to us -- Mrs. Delany was but poorly. we conversed
about the Duchess Mrs.. Delany gave me an account
of her meeting Lord Weymouth at Bath &c
his marriage with Lady Weymouth the Duchess Dowager of
Portlands with the late Duke, the number
of offers she had. the character of
the late duke, of his Brother Lord
George. his two Sisters. &c &c
the Duchess did not come to her work table
till just before dinner. would not let me
change my dress. Mrs. Delany went to
her room after dinner the Duchess told me
of the uneasiness she had respecting
Mrs & Miss Port. her opinion of them
their art &c the reasons of Miss Port not
being invited by Lady Weymouth to join her
Daughters. a falsity she had told &
many other circumstances -- after tea
I read in Evelina -- Mrs. Delany folded
up all the Duchess letters, I took impressions
of some of her seals &c. went to Supper
½ past ten. conversed about education

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I gave my opinion respecting the
telling children & given them only
true stories to read, they agreed
with me. the Duchess & Mrs. Delany both
expressed their disapprobation
of Young Peoples acting Plays
&c &c the Duchess was not quite well
she had fatigued herself with
writing. we parted ½ past 11 --
I sat up in my room till
2 o'Clock writing out the Manuscripts
Mrs. Delany had lent me to copy

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Tuesday after supper. the Duchess spoke of Lady
Mansfield -- gave a high character of
her. told me what an affection she had
for Miss Murrays Lord Stormonts Sisters
they were the only People (Miss Murrays) with
whom she kept up a correspondence except
her Children. talked of Lady Rockingham
her love for Politics -- that she & her late
Lord did not always agree -- the folly of
Women entering into Politics. Dowager
Lady Spencer &c &c

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went at ½ past nine to Mrs. Delanys room
she was better. breakfasted, stayed till past
10 o'Clock. conversed upon the danger of
associating with unworthy dissipated People
& various other Subjects. came to my
room read & wrote about ½ past 11
Mrs. Delany came to me I read the News Papers to her we then went upstairs we went out
in the Chaise took an airing for
about an hour in the Park. Mrs. Delany said
how much satisfaction it gave her to
see the strong attachment the Duchess had
for me -- that if she looked forward
to its being productive of great comfort
to her friend. she related to me a
very interesting account of the early
part of her life. told me of the early
acquaintance she had with Lady Frances Douglass
& related the circumstances of Lord
Lansdowns (her fathers older Brother
being confined in the Tower) her
father having been apprehended.
-- the Affection of her Aunt Stanley
(Sir William Stanley Wife) her living with them
her retiring to the Country for 3 years.
&c &c. when we came in the Duchess came
to us. we prevailed upon her to go out in
the Chaise which she did -- Mrs. Delany & I went
to our rooms for a few Minutes only

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& then met in the Drawing room -- we
looked over Sir Wiliam Hamiltons Book of
Volcanoes, -- the Duchess came to us told us
how busy she was settling accounts &c.
came to us about 3 -- brought me the Duke
of Marlbro' Book of Gems to look over. she
& Mrs. Delany worked when we were told dinner was ready --
I ran to my room to wash my hands for
the Duchess would not let me change my dress --
she also went to do the same. did not go
to dinner till near 5. after dinner Mrs-
Delany went to her room. the Duchess was so
good to show me many curious things
some of the Laplanders works of ingenuity
-- the Americans, Otaheite &c Chinese
gave me the Prints of Gems in her
Collection. (before dinner we looked at
curious Birds nests Birds &c &c) showed me some
very pretty drawings of Lady Weymouth of the
Chinese dresses &c &c -- in the Evening I read 100
pages of Evelina -- we did not go to supper till
near 11 -- conversed about birds. &c &c. parted
about 12. Mr. Keys ye. groom of the Chamber lit me
to my rooms I begged he would not give himself
the trouble &c &c. the Duchess gave me
the Catalogue of her Pictures.
Betty made me uneasy about something
she has heard of Lady Weymouth &c wrote
went to bed at 1 o'Clock
      received a letter from Miss Gunning which made
      my Heart ache

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      Bullstrode. Wednesday
                             December 3d. 1783
Allegory
Revd Baily
Got up a little after 8 a great fog which
made the Morning appear dark
had my hair dressed for the day though
I put on as usual for the morning a
riding Habit. sent also as usual (as
favourite a word this in my journal
as &c. but my &c's are more
expressive as they often mean with I
do not choose to trust to paper)
to enquire how Dear Mrs. Delany had
passed the night had a good account.
at ½ past 9 the Breakfast hour
she sent for me to Breakfast when
we are alone as I believe I have
said before we always breakfast
in her Dressing room. found her in
spirits & looking vastly better. a
letter from Lady Wake, the letters are
always brought with. the breakfast things
read part of its contents to her.
she related to me the history & indeed
it was a curious one of her Marriage
with Mr. Pendarves her first husband
his coming to her Uncles at Long
Leate &c &c. I left her at ½

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past 10 o'Clock came to my room
the Duchess sent as usual her Chamber
Maid with enquiries -- I read &
wrote. about 12 Mrs. Delany came
to me, & brought the Newspaper,
I read them to her -- one of the Duchess's
footmen came to enquire if I
chose to ride on horseback I said
I would if the fog dispersed. the Duchess
sent us a comical message about
seeing the Moon which proved the
Sun struggling through the fog. I
followed Mrs. Delany when she left me
she went to her room for a few
Moments. I went in the library
Mrs. Delany came to me -- the Duchess woman
came to us for the Papers &c --
Mrs. Delany & I went into the Drawing Room
I read to her some of Mrs. Fentons
Essays on the 7 days of the Week. the
Duchess joined us about 1 o'Clock.
brought me drawings of Lady Weymouths
from the Chinese. look
over they were highly finished.
I read to them the 3d & last letter
of Mr Lettices account of the
      Lakes of Cumberland.

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The Duchess was then so good as to give me a
Book of Drawing's to look at of
Mr Levers her graces House Steward
& of Mr. Agnew the Gardener of
Shells -- Birds &c &c. we parted
but not till past dinner time
I just changed my riding Skirt
put on my Habit again -- after
dinner -- Mrs. Delany went to her room.
the Duchess & I sat together till she
came up again which was in ½ an
hour. the Duchess Brought me a large
collection of Seals -- to take impressions
from -- I finished the 2 Vol of
Evelina -- & my letter to miss
Gunning which I finished in the Drawing
room went to supper about ½
past 10 conversed -- as we have
dumb waiters & no servants to wait
at Supper. about the King &c Windsor
Castle. Dowg Lady Carlisles being
come to England. anecdotes
of her. &c &c parted ½ past
11.
      the Dining Room Screen
      brought for me to repair.

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December 4th 1783 Thursday
found dear Mrs. Delany in good
look & spirits when I went to
Breakfast sat with her from ½
past 9 till ¼ of Eleven -- she
related to me the beginning
& end of her acquaintance with
Miss Halley Daughter of Lord Halley
-- Dalhousie family Wyndham Mrs Pendarvis Princess Caroline Leicester House. -- her very
shocking conduct. &c &c.
the Duchess sent as usual. when I
left Mrs. Delany the horse & groom
were ready the Morning heavenly
the Sun bright -- took a most
delightful Ride. a sensible
kind Groom -- met Mrs. Delany
who was going to take the air
stopped & offered her to come in the
Carriage, she would not let me
pursued my Ride came in
20 Minutes after 12 went to Mrs
Delany she promised to come to me
in my Room: told me she had walked for

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½ an hour &c. I came to my room
found upon my Table a Work Bag with a
paper upon it, importing it came
by the air Balloon from Paris. also
some fine myrtle in a Tumbler of Water,
I ran to Mrs. Delany to thank her
for her Galanterie. she then came
with me to my room. related to me
the melancholy Story of a young Man
attachment to her -- his death (&c
see Cover of this for names.) the
Duchess of Portland came to us -- told us
how happy she was having read a
letter from Lady Weymouth to say
she was to come to her on Saturday
she is obliged to come from
Longheath -- the Queen having no
Lady to attend her -- Lady Holdernesse
attending Lady Conyers who is dying
of a consumption. Duchess Argyle in
Scotland. Lady Egremont Ill
Lady Effingham attending Miss
Ellis who is dying Lady Pembroke
abroad with Lady Herbert her
Daughter who is ill &c &c

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Mrs Delany & the Duchess left me they
went to take an airing I remained
in my Room Took emp ---  walk &c at 2 o'Clock Mrs
Delany sent for me to eat
oysters with her in her Room, went
-- she told me the Duchess & her during
their airing had only talked of
me -- in my favour she was
so good to say -- I requested
she would tell me if she ever
perceived any thing wrong
in my conduct, expressions
or manners. & desired her to
tell me if she did not think
the Duchess wd. wish to have me go
when Lady Weymouth her daughter
came, she assured she thought
the Duchess would not
upon any account part with me
before tuesday &c but that
she would tell her what I said

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we went upstairs to the Duchess in the Drawing
room -- the Duchess brought me some of
the late Mrs. Wrights work to look at
a Bird in worsted & flowers in
silk on white Satin. gave me also the
additional catalogue of the Pictures &c
I read till 4 in Evelina, then ran down
had my hair done in a ½ of an hour
-- returned & the Drawing room found Mrs.
Delany alone. we looked & saw two
Horses close to the House eating.
the Moon shone bright &c &c
Mrs. Delany told me she had mentioned
to the Duchess what I said about going on
Saturday that the Duchess would not
listen to it & that she begged her
to assure me she wished me
to stay. the Duchess came we went
to dinner ½ past 4 o'Clock. after
Dinner. our converse was
relative to beggars -- the Duchess said how
wrong it was to encourage those
poor who begged in the Streets in London
&c when we left the Dining Room
Mrs. Delany stayed a few Minutes
the Duchess went out of the Room & then
I related a story of my poor old
 -  Porter & his Blind Wife

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Mrs. Delany then went to her room
for to repose -- the Duchess & I
had an interesting conversation
about Mrs. Port -- an account that
quite shocked me how one
is deceived in Characters!
Mrs. Delany came up &
prevented further conversation on
this subject. After tea I read
in Evelina till 10 o'Clock
After supper the conversation
was upon different
subjects. Lady A: Hamilton
Lady M. Cooley her daughters &c.
when Mrs. Delany was gone to her
room after dinner -- the duchess
not only pressed me to stay
& not think of going when Lady
Weymouth came, but earnestly
entreated me to remain with
her & Mrs. Delany till they went
to Town -- she said with tears
perhaps -- we may not have the
comfort of meeting again
think of the age of my friend --
&c &c. she prevailed. I promised

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& she cordially embraced me
when Mrs. Delany came she told her
& they seemed mutually happy.

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