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L 30/16/16/91
Feb. 19th, 2016 05:23 pmThat Nelson article I mentioned researching a few weeks back is now live at Atlas Obscura, and I posted some additional material over here if anybody's interested. If anybody's really interested, message me your e-mail and I can send over a copy of that Mary Grantham letter or scans of old newspapers. My transcript of the letter (stuff in brackets, I'm not sure about):
Newby Hall, Dec. [14?] 1805
Dear Mrs. Robinson
I have been conscious that I have let others write to you, when before my business, I had thanks to return for a kind letter; to pay my debts, I will begin by saying that along with a Note from Fanny yesterday declining further shares in an Opera Box, the same Post brought one from Monk to say they told him at the Office & at last he saw Jewell himself, that the Box ran was let immediately after they put the [Breadalbane?] on notice & a Clark believed it was to Lord Somersville; & there was no other unlet. There may be a Fib in all this, but it's his Breath to say that Mr B. has been guilty of the most careless incivility to me & my sister in not giving us the refusal of it, & the grandest folly in giving it up to the House if she ever meant to subscribe again to the Opera; in short, I am ragy & not predisposed to have given up the Opera entirely. I hope however we shall have no [connections] in our Play Box, & that during my Sister's present stay at [Putney], [Lady] Pembroke, with
[pg. 2]
whom she has exchanged letters will have the weekly form right for the friend who gives it to & that Mrs. M. [Gist?], tho' she cannot hear will see well enough to attend to my Sister's million directions about the Tickets & not lose any of them; what a rare such good host of people as you & my Sister would be in!! I certainly meant that whoever took all of my division of the Box should have it entirely to themselves, that night as an inducement to subscribe, but on the others think the two Lords should be admitted, unless requested to the contrary, from our lending the Box to any large party: however if the [Greffier?] subscribes to your division or indeed any other man I do not wish them to have it for mine because it lessens so much of my power of obliging any friends with places & is more than their share of subscription is entitled to; tho' yours Nephews are entitled to the accommedation. A few lines from the Secretary came Today, darted them off & merely written to make a neat & appropriate on the Day. a longer letter to me was the same Date as yrs & the same observations & lamentations on the present state of affairs on the Continent: To you, I suppose [he ways?] he scarcely expects to come over before [February?] & to no he adds that [B?] Hardnicke will not fail to befriend him if it is in his power & that [M. Long] continues very civil to him, but at present he saw no utility in any direct application to him
[pg. 3]
for more direct recommendation to the [Gromies?]; I shall add that might have more weight with that great man than [B?] Hardnickes, because, the latter will be despised because they don't fear his Opposing them, when he returns. The Continental news completely perplexes one, there is most certainly gross lies & infamous abuse in all the [2?] Charlemagne's Bulletins, but you know I once entirely agreed with old Mrs Box that bad stories were never told of people, when they did not in some degree deserve it; therefore I fear some further treacherous going away or shameful surrender & I shall lament over your old acquaintance the [Qusoians?] for they have fought with more effect than the Christians were let to do. The late Winds have made one fear poor [Ld?] Nelson's remains would find a Wattery grave at last, in a ship so crippled as the Victory must be, & it might have better to have landed his Body at Portsmouth & repaired the Ship there: Those windy days have been followed by a heavy fall of Snow Yesterday & Today: so that you may tell me I have [afaird till?] I may be snowed up some weeks & what is more, my son had an inspection ordered; not from Col. [Looch's?] wish, but from the wisdom [illegible] of superior orders: it is impossible they can do more than [coppe?]
[p. 4]
in the Market Place at [Dipon?] but it is a pity to appear at all in such weather
Early in [January?] I shall move Southwards rather ashamed at my long visit my son & [illegible] still mean to pass thro' London to Bath after the 20th of the month: if that season being at an Hotel is the worst of the plan they must be cold & uncomfortable.
[addressed to the Honorable Mrs Robinson]
As I have answered Fanny's letter, I will enclose this to [S?] Malbesbury for once. As always Dear Mrs Robinson am yrs most Affectionately
M. Grantham
Newby Hall, Dec. [14?] 1805
Dear Mrs. Robinson
I have been conscious that I have let others write to you, when before my business, I had thanks to return for a kind letter; to pay my debts, I will begin by saying that along with a Note from Fanny yesterday declining further shares in an Opera Box, the same Post brought one from Monk to say they told him at the Office & at last he saw Jewell himself, that the Box ran was let immediately after they put the [Breadalbane?] on notice & a Clark believed it was to Lord Somersville; & there was no other unlet. There may be a Fib in all this, but it's his Breath to say that Mr B. has been guilty of the most careless incivility to me & my sister in not giving us the refusal of it, & the grandest folly in giving it up to the House if she ever meant to subscribe again to the Opera; in short, I am ragy & not predisposed to have given up the Opera entirely. I hope however we shall have no [connections] in our Play Box, & that during my Sister's present stay at [Putney], [Lady] Pembroke, with
[pg. 2]
whom she has exchanged letters will have the weekly form right for the friend who gives it to & that Mrs. M. [Gist?], tho' she cannot hear will see well enough to attend to my Sister's million directions about the Tickets & not lose any of them; what a rare such good host of people as you & my Sister would be in!! I certainly meant that whoever took all of my division of the Box should have it entirely to themselves, that night as an inducement to subscribe, but on the others think the two Lords should be admitted, unless requested to the contrary, from our lending the Box to any large party: however if the [Greffier?] subscribes to your division or indeed any other man I do not wish them to have it for mine because it lessens so much of my power of obliging any friends with places & is more than their share of subscription is entitled to; tho' yours Nephews are entitled to the accommedation. A few lines from the Secretary came Today, darted them off & merely written to make a neat & appropriate on the Day. a longer letter to me was the same Date as yrs & the same observations & lamentations on the present state of affairs on the Continent: To you, I suppose [he ways?] he scarcely expects to come over before [February?] & to no he adds that [B?] Hardnicke will not fail to befriend him if it is in his power & that [M. Long] continues very civil to him, but at present he saw no utility in any direct application to him
[pg. 3]
for more direct recommendation to the [Gromies?]; I shall add that might have more weight with that great man than [B?] Hardnickes, because, the latter will be despised because they don't fear his Opposing them, when he returns. The Continental news completely perplexes one, there is most certainly gross lies & infamous abuse in all the [2?] Charlemagne's Bulletins, but you know I once entirely agreed with old Mrs Box that bad stories were never told of people, when they did not in some degree deserve it; therefore I fear some further treacherous going away or shameful surrender & I shall lament over your old acquaintance the [Qusoians?] for they have fought with more effect than the Christians were let to do. The late Winds have made one fear poor [Ld?] Nelson's remains would find a Wattery grave at last, in a ship so crippled as the Victory must be, & it might have better to have landed his Body at Portsmouth & repaired the Ship there: Those windy days have been followed by a heavy fall of Snow Yesterday & Today: so that you may tell me I have [afaird till?] I may be snowed up some weeks & what is more, my son had an inspection ordered; not from Col. [Looch's?] wish, but from the wisdom [illegible] of superior orders: it is impossible they can do more than [coppe?]
[p. 4]
in the Market Place at [Dipon?] but it is a pity to appear at all in such weather
Early in [January?] I shall move Southwards rather ashamed at my long visit my son & [illegible] still mean to pass thro' London to Bath after the 20th of the month: if that season being at an Hotel is the worst of the plan they must be cold & uncomfortable.
[addressed to the Honorable Mrs Robinson]
As I have answered Fanny's letter, I will enclose this to [S?] Malbesbury for once. As always Dear Mrs Robinson am yrs most Affectionately
M. Grantham
